The Love by Hypnotic Recap, Plot, Synopsis
The Love by Hypnotic Synopsis
Princess Li Mingyue of Xiyue and Prince Li Qian of Beixuan were forced into a political marriage, initially despising each other. When Mingyue hypnotized Li Qian, it unexpectedly unlocked his lost memories. In an effort to fully recover his past, Li Qian gradually accepted her as his wife. After overcoming numerous trials together, the two finally found true love.
The Love by Hypnotic Recap
Episode 1 Recap
In the winter of Jinghe year twenty, the nations of Xiyue and Beixuan sought to rebuild their diplomatic relations. To solidify this new bond, Second Prince Kaierbi personally escorted Princess Aimaila to Beixuan for a diplomatic marriage. As the marriage procession arrived in Xing'an city, it was immediately surrounded by throngs of eager citizens, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the princess.
However, unbeknownst to the crowd, Princess Aimaila, who had been granted the name Li Mingyue by the Beixuan Emperor before the marriage, had already secretly slipped away. She was out exploring Xing'an city, marveling at its bustling streets. Meanwhile, it was her maid, Tanli, who rode in the marriage carriage. The procession continued its journey until it reached Anhuamen, where it suddenly came under attack by assassins.
In the midst of the danger, a veiled Beixuan prince, King Zi, appeared and rescued the delegation. As King Zi prepared to leave, another hidden assassin shot an arrow at him, which he skillfully blocked. However, his sachet was struck and fell. King Zi then pursued the assassin. At the same time, the real Princess Li Mingyue, having heard about the assassination, rushed back to the scene.
She encountered King Zi chasing the assassin and, mistaking him for one of the attackers, shouted and gave chase. Her pursuit was cut short when, due to her unrefined martial arts skills, she fell from a rooftop but was swiftly caught by King Zi. After he dropped her, King Zi continued his pursuit, eventually cornering the assassin. He demanded to know who had sent him, but the man refused to answer, choosing instead to bite his tongue and commit suicide.
Shortly after, King Zi’s subordinate, Diwu Cheng, arrived with news from the palace: the assassins had been identified as rebels. King Zi then ordered his subordinate to secretly protect the Xiyue delegation. Meanwhile, Li Mingyue finally caught up. Seeing the fallen assassin and King Zi, she stared at him, bewildered, asking who he was. King Zi remained silent. As he removed his veil, a passing carriage obscured Li Mingyue's view, and by the time it passed, he was gone.
At King Ling's residence, he received a report confirming the Xiyue princess had safely arrived at the official stop. It became clear that the assassination attempt had been orchestrated by King Ling’s ministers, who had also reported the attackers as rebels to cover their tracks.
One of them, Mister Qiao, suggested to King Ling that this was an opportunity to "go further," implying more drastic measures, but King Ling vehemently rejected the idea, warning Mister Qiao against harming siblings or parents. A subordinate then brought an arrow found at the crime scene, confirming it had hit a sachet. The arrow carried the distinct scent of Ambergris, a fragrance exclusive to sachets worn by princes.
This led King Ling to conclude that the rescuer was none other than King Zi, Li Qian. The subordinate also reported a peculiar detail: while their original plan was to assassinate the Xiyue princess, the second arrow fired had been aimed directly at King Zi. Realizing his subordinates had overstepped, King Ling sternly warned them against making independent decisions in the future.
After dismissing them, he instructed his attendant, Qin Yuan, to deliver custom-made silk and a box of gold hairpins to the Qiao residence for his beloved, Miss Qiao Huixin. However, the thoughtful gift was rejected. Qiao Huixin, the eldest daughter of the Qiao family, consistently refused any gifts from King Ling. She explained to her father, Mister Qiao, that she had instructed her servants not to accept them.
Mister Qiao advised her to face the reality of King Zi's impending marriage, but Huixin remained steadfast. Acknowledging that King Zi had to prioritize the kingdom's diplomatic marriage, she firmly stated that since her engagement to King Zi remained valid, she would always consider herself his woman, even if it meant being a concubine, as it was her mother’s dying wish for her to marry him.
Mister Qiao highlighted King Ling’s sincerity and his advantageous position as the eldest son, favored by the Emperor's beloved Consort Wang, making him the prime candidate for Crown Prince. He argued that marrying King Ling was the best choice for her and the Qiao family, but Huixin reiterated her commitment to her heart. Later, King Zi was informed that King Ling had been summoned by the Emperor to report on the assassination.
King Zi anticipated this, remarking that while he personally didn't care about Xiyue's power, others certainly did, implying King Ling was trying to gain favor after his failed attempt. Soon after, King Zi also entered the palace to meet the Emperor, where he pointed out the numerous suspicious aspects of the "rebel" attack. However, the Emperor, keen to avoid further complications, was unwilling to delve deeper, emphasizing that the Xiyue princess’s safety was now paramount.
Seizing the opportunity, King Zi proposed a solution: given King Ling’s commendable efforts in tracking the assassins and King Zi’s own busy schedule, King Ling was the ideal candidate to temporarily protect the princess. The Emperor approved, sternly warning King Ling that he would be held accountable for any harm that befell her. As they left the palace, King Ling challenged King Zi, asking why he wouldn't dissolve his engagement with Huixin.
King Zi scoffed that he had no choice but to obey the Emperor's decree and mockingly suggested King Ling should persuade Huixin to dissolve the engagement herself. As the Xiyue procession approached the palace, Li Mingyue had once again slipped away for fun. Her maid, Tanli, had to cover for her in the carriage, feigning dizziness and claiming to be looking for spices when Second Prince Kaierbi grew concerned.
Upon Li Mingyue’s return, Kaierbi warned her sternly about the grave crime of deceiving the Emperor, but she retorted that her name was now Aimaila, a name and surname bestowed by the Emperor himself. Just then, Princess Kangle, the Emperor's ninth child, approached, expressing curiosity about the Xiyue princess. She tried to lift Li Mingyue’s veil, but Li Mingyue refused, arousing Kangle's suspicion. Arriving at their designated quarters, Li Mingyue hurried to swap clothes with Tanli.
While Li Mingyue was changing behind a screen, King Zi unexpectedly entered and inadvertently saw her silhouette. Startled, Li Mingyue confronted him, accusing him of peeking. King Zi tried to ignore her, but she chased him, taunting him as a beardless and quarrelsome "eunuch." During their chase, they stumbled and fell together. Li Mingyue then employed her hypnosis skills on King Zi, convincing him he was a tree that could only cry.
He remained frozen until his subordinate arrived and snapped him out of the trance, at which point he claimed his tears were from dust blown into his eyes. Despite the quick wardrobe change, Princess Kangle deduced that Li Mingyue and Tanli had swapped identities. To ensure her silence, Li Mingyue promised to be Kangle's closest confidante, sharing all her food, fun, and secrets. As the evening banquet drew near, King Ling arrived with Qiao Huixin.
Huixin stared intently at Li Mingyue. Learning from Kangle that Huixin was King Zi's childhood sweetheart, Li Mingyue worried that King Zi would not like her. Just then, King Zi approached. Li Mingyue and King Zi recognized each other instantly from their chaotic encounters but, to avoid suspicion, both vehemently denied ever having met before.
Episode 2 Recap
After a celebratory dinner, Li Mingyue expressed her strong desire not to marry Li Qian and insisted on returning to Xiyue immediately. She instructed her maid, Tanli, to pack her bags, stating she would rather venture out alone than endure such a marriage. Her second brother, Kaierbi, intervened, advising her against such an impulsive decision.
He argued that staying in Beixuan as an official royal consort was her best option, pointing out that Li Qian had personally helped them repel assassins, which indicated he would not treat her harshly. When Li Mingyue expressed doubt in her own hypnotism skills, Kaierbi boosted her confidence by giving her a powerful artifact: the Zhuxin Bell, which he claimed could instantly hypnotize anyone.
He demonstrated its power on Li Mingyue herself, making her recite a romantic poem before snapping her out of the trance. Though initially annoyed, Li Mingyue realized the bell's potential and became determined to master it. Kaierbi cautioned her that the foundation of hypnotism is trust and that direct eye contact is still crucial, especially for accessing deep memories. If a subject is prepared or strong-willed, the bell's effectiveness would be diminished.
He also warned that Beixuan people do not understand hypnotism and might view it as black magic, urging her to be discreet until the wedding. Meanwhile, Li Qian was discussing the ongoing drought in Guanzhong and the looming threat from the Nanlu kingdom with his friends, Song Jinyu and Sikong Zhen, when Li Mingyue unexpectedly arrived. Song Jinyu teased Li Qian, suggesting his disdain for Li Mingyue stemmed from his lingering feelings for Qiao Huixin.
As Li Mingyue entered, Song Jinyu and Sikong Zhen hid behind a screen. Li Mingyue approached Li Qian, feigning shyness and expressing that her heart had "skipped a beat" upon seeing him. Remembering Kaierbi's advice, she attempted to establish eye contact while touching his arm and chest to find a sensitive spot and lower his defenses. Li Qian, clearly uncomfortable, repeatedly recoiled, causing her attempt to fail as his friends watched in amusement from behind the screen.
Frustrated, Li Qian ordered his attendant, Queyan, to escort Li Mingyue out. Once she left, Song Jinyu and Sikong Zhen emerged, openly mocking Li Qian for the awkward encounter and suggesting Li Mingyue was deeply infatuated with him. Displeased, Li Qian ordered Queyan to prepare for a visit to the palace to break off the engagement.
When he learned the Emperor would not permit it, Li Qian devised a new strategy: he would make Li Mingyue's life so difficult that she would annul the marriage herself. As part of his new strategy, Li Qian paid a visit to Li Mingyue at her residence.
Explaining that she needed to learn Beixuan customs, he had his subordinate present her with a copy of "Biographies of Exemplary Women" and instructed her to memorize the "Kindness and Intelligence" chapter by the next day. He threatened that failure would prove her uneducated and serve as grounds for her expulsion. While Tanli worried about the daunting task, the resourceful Li Mingyue quickly devised a plan. The next day, Li Qian tested her knowledge.
Li Mingyue confidently recited the text, but she moved around the room ostentatiously, casually touching various surfaces. Li Qian quickly realized she was using "petty tricks" by hiding cheat sheets around the room. When he accused her, Li Mingyue feigned innocence and dared him to search her person. Flustered by the challenge, Li Qian quickly left.
Upon hearing the account, Song Jinyu and Sikong Zhen erupted in laughter, observing that despite Li Qian's claims of disdain, his reactions showed he was more affected by her than he would admit. Later, as Li Mingyue sat in a pavilion, Sikong Zhen approached her. He asked why she didn't simply annul the marriage, given the constant friction with Li Qian.
Li Mingyue explained that having traveled so far, she felt compelled to see it through, adding that she was often bullied even back in Xiyue. She recounted how constant warfare had forced her and her mother to live a nomadic life, implying she was raised among common people. Sikong Zhen expressed his admiration for her resilience, and they toasted to their new friendship. During their conversation, Li Mingyue probed him about Li Qian's nature.
When she joked that Li Qian seemed "afraid of women," Sikong Zhen innocently asked if she had touched his earlobe, causing Li Mingyue to realize she had just discovered his sensitive spot. Determined to succeed, Li Qian devised yet another plan. He instructed his subordinate, Diwu Cheng, to invite Li Mingyue to his study. To ensure the plan's success, Diwu Cheng subtly questioned Tanli about Li Mingyue's dislikes, and Tanli revealed that her princess detested sloppy and unkempt men.
Armed with this information, Diwu Cheng deliberately made Li Qian's study incredibly messy. When Li Mingyue arrived, she found the study in disarray, with Li Qian feigning a disheveled appearance. To his surprise, she did not react with disgust but instead declared them a "match made in heaven" due to their similar habits. Seizing the opportunity, she reached out and touched Li Qian's earlobe, using the Zhuxin Bell to hypnotize him. Li Qian immediately fell into a trance.
Inside his mind, Li Mingyue saw a terrifying "sea of fire" and a "crying little boy," realizing his deep-seated pyrophobia. She promptly broke the hypnosis, and Li Qian awoke, confused and angry, demanding to know what "sorcery" she had used. Li Mingyue calmly asserted that it was a wife's duty to know her husband's fears. She warned that if he continued to plot against their marriage, she would expose all his secrets.
Realizing he had underestimated her, Li Qian listened as she proposed a deal: they would present as an affectionate couple in public for political appearances but remain separate in private, with no real marital relationship. Taken aback, Li Qian agreed to consider her terms and was given a day to decide.
Episode 3 Recap
Despite the emperor's approval of his Xuan River diversion plan, Li Qian found himself restless and his music devoid of joy. He sought out Sikong Zhen, questioning if secret spells capable of exploring the human heart truly existed. Sikong Zhen recounted a tale of his own father, who, while residing in Xiyue and feeling homesick, encountered a white-haired musician playing a stringless guqin. Upon making eye contact, his father heard the melodies of his homeland emanating from the instrument.
Sikong Zhen concluded that such a spell, one that could induce a fantasy and evoke the deepest emotions, certainly existed. He then suggested Li Qian’s current unease stemmed from Li Mingyue having discovered his weakness. Li Qian, however, insisted the matter was more complex. Li Qian revealed that during his recent encounter with the spell, though it felt like a fantasy, everything also felt incredibly familiar, as if he were reliving a long-lost memory.
He explained that he had suffered amnesia at nine years old, losing all prior recollections. While he knew what he feared and loved, he never understood the underlying reasons. Now, he believed he had discovered the source of his fear of fire: having witnessed a large blaze. Li Qian resolved that if the secret spell truly could help him recover his lost memories, he would keep Li Mingyue by his side and protect her.
However, if the spell proved to be a deception, he would not tolerate her trickery. Soon after, Qiao Huixin arrived at Li Qian’s residence, presenting him with a handmade gift for his upcoming marriage. She expressed understanding for his lack of control over his royal union, assuring him she could endure it. Li Qian politely declined the gift, praising Qiao Huixin for her intelligence and beauty, and reiterating that he had always regarded her as a sister.
Qiao Huixin, however, tearfully confessed that the childhood marriage contract had always been a deeply cherished belief and a promise she had faithfully guarded for years. Li Qian acknowledged her devotion but gently advised her not to be consumed by such an obsession, wishing her a lifetime of happiness. With a heavy heart, Qiao Huixin accepted his words and departed. Meanwhile, Li Mingyue diligently practiced her hypnosis skills on her maid, Tanli.
Later, Li Qian arrived at her residence, dismissing everyone else to speak with her privately. He immediately questioned her about the secret spell she had used on him, asking if his visions were real or merely a fantasy. Li Mingyue confirmed they were not illusions but real memories accessed through her hypnosis, emphasizing that she could achieve this without any external tools.
Li Qian agreed to proceed with their marriage but stipulated a condition: he must explicitly consent before she could hypnotize him; any breach would result in severe punishment. Li Mingyue, confident with the Zhuxin Bell in her possession, readily agreed to his terms. Despite Li Qian's rejection, Qiao Huixin refused to abandon hope.
She cut a strand of her own hair and symbolically merged it with a lock of Li Qian’s childhood hair, which she had kept from their games together, hoping to secure their future bond. King Ling watched her sorrowfully as she softly murmured that even with his boundless good qualities, she could not find a place for him in her heart. Elsewhere, Li Qian's attendant, Queyan, stealthily acquired the Zhuxin Bell and delivered it to him.
Li Qian spent the entire night studying it but could not decipher its use. He recalled that for the spell to take effect, Li Mingyue had to get close and touch a specific spot. While he pondered this, his friend Song Jinyu teased him, vividly describing his own experience of being utterly captivated by a beautiful woman. Their conversation then shifted to playful banter, with Li Qian pressing Song Jinyu to reveal the name of this woman from his past.
The grand wedding ceremony between Li Qian and Li Mingyue commenced as scheduled, signifying good relations and mutual support between their kingdoms. As they entered the grand hall, Li Mingyue confronted Li Qian about stealing her Zhuxin Bell. He cryptically replied that their marriage was a contract requiring "chips" for trade. Li Mingyue noticed his sachet, where he likely kept the bell, had been moved.
He stated he would only reveal things when he wished to, using the bell as leverage against her recklessness. During the ceremony, the cue to "discard the fan" was given, but Li Mingyue hesitated, feigning ignorance of the custom. Seeing her delay, Li Qian offered her a deal: if she wanted her Zhuxin Bell back, she would have to dance with him.
She agreed, and together, they performed a unique dance, merging the traditions of Xiyue's marriage dance with the customs of Beixuan. The emperor praised their thoughtfulness. After the dance, they took their seats for the banquet. Li Mingyue, famished, eagerly took a bite of meat, only to find it incredibly bitter. As she nearly spat it out, the emperor inquired if Beixuan's meat was difficult to swallow.
Li Qian, realizing this was a trick by King Ling, took the meat, dipped it in tea, and offered it to Li Mingyue. He explained to the emperor that this act symbolized Li Mingyue shedding her identity as the princess of Xiyue to officially become the Princess Consort of Beixuan. Upon tasting the tea-dipped meat, Li Mingyue found it was no longer bitter. Li Qian remarked to King Ling that the initial bitterness represented enduring hardships together.
The emperor approved of this meaningful gesture, declaring the feast open. Witnessing their intimate exchange, Qiao Huixin, heartbroken, abruptly departed. King Ling, though pained, remained seated. Later, Li Mingyue pressed Li Qian about his promise to return the Zhuxin Bell. However, he clarified his wordplay: his promise was that if she "wanted" the instrument back, she "had" to dance with him, not that the act of dancing would guarantee its return.
Their playful bickering amused the emperor, who expressed concern that Li Mingyue's spirited nature might cause trouble. Consort Shu, however, reassured him that Li Mingyue was free-spirited and could be taught the rules, also observing that she might now become a convenient target for King Ling's schemes against Li Qian. King Ling, meanwhile, noticed the wine had been drugged. As the auspicious moment arrived, the newlyweds proceeded outside for the traditional arrow-shooting ritual. King Ling, observing Li Qian's hesitation, wondered aloud if his brother feared his heart was not sincere enough to shoot the arrow far.
Episode 4 Recap
Following the wedding feast, where King Ling had secretly drugged his wine, Li Qian was required to participate in an archery ceremony. Under the influence of the drug, he struggled to draw his bow, on the verge of public embarrassment. Li Mingyue intervened, proposing that it would be more meaningful for the couple to shoot the three ceremonial arrows together.
With the Emperor's approval, she guided Li Qian's hand, providing the strength needed to fire the arrows so far they vanished from sight, earning cheers from Princess Kangle. In return for her help, Li Qian returned Li Mingyue's bracelet. He sternly warned her that the bracelet must never fall into anyone else's hands and its memory-restoring power must remain a secret. He stressed that if the Emperor discovered the truth, he would be unable to protect her.
Unbeknownst to them, King Ling overheard their conversation and was intrigued to learn the bracelet's true purpose. Later, on their wedding night, Li Qian dismissed the attendants and prepared to leave the chambers without consummating the marriage or even lifting Li Mingyue's veil. Li Mingyue stopped him, insisting they complete the "combining hair" ritual, without which she couldn't properly face her brother.
Li Qian, reminding her their marriage was a mere contract, eventually agreed but set a condition of his own: he wanted her to use hypnosis to help him recover his lost memories. Amused that he would willingly seek out the very technique she had used against him, Li Mingyue saw a perfect opportunity to tease him and readily agreed, on the condition that he fully obey her commands during the process.
Li Mingyue began by playfully tormenting Li Qian, first making him stare at her without blinking for the duration of an incense stick, then claiming a special technique required her to touch his most ticklish spots. Just as Li Qian's frustration peaked, she finally began the actual hypnosis. Under its influence, he once again saw a terrifying fire and the image of a helpless young boy. He awoke trembling, pulling his hand away from Li Mingyue's grasp.
He vehemently denied that the "weak boy" in the vision was his younger self, but Li Mingyue mocked him, asserting that hypnosis reveals one's true memories and that his cowardice was simply hidden within his lost past. Infuriated, Li Qian threatened her with the penalty for slandering a prince, but she retorted that a true prince shouldn't be so petty.
Aware that the Emperor had sent Eunuch Zhou to monitor their wedding chamber, Li Qian declared they would spend the night in the same room to keep up appearances, with an agreement to sleep separately thereafter. He tossed a pillow onto a chair for Li Mingyue, claiming the bed for himself. She refused and climbed onto the bed, only for Li Qian to carry her back to the chair.
Annoyed, Li Mingyue retaliated by humming and repeatedly calling out "Sir" to prevent him from sleeping. Outside, Eunuch Zhou overheard the commotion, misinterpreted it as marital playfulness, and left satisfied that he could deliver a positive report to the Emperor. After bickering for half the night, Li Mingyue fell asleep. Li Qian took his revenge by using a brush to draw on her face.
The next morning, when Eunuch Zhou arrived with a breakfast sent by the Emperor, Li Qian quickly joined a still-sleeping Li Mingyue on the bed. Seeing her smeared face, Eunuch Zhou was taken aback, but Li Qian dismissed it as "bedroom fun." Once the eunuch left, Li Mingyue saw her reflection and confronted Li Qian, who playfully shook the Zhuxin Bell, causing her demeanor to soften.
However, he refused to return the bell, stating he was keeping it as punishment for her loud snoring, which he claimed violated their agreement not to disturb each other. After seeing her brother off, Li Mingyue accompanied Li Qian to the palace to greet the Emperor and Queen Shu. Determined to retrieve her Zhuxin Bell, she made several subtle attempts to get to Li Qian's sachet, prompting him to warn her to stop.
Queen Shu then gifted Li Mingyue a golden hairpin, expressing her hope for a grandchild. Seizing the moment, Li Mingyue claimed that a treasure Li Qian kept in his sachet had miraculous child-giving properties, hoping to force him to produce the bell. Her plan failed when she managed to grab the sachet and found it empty.
To save face, Li Qian quickly interjected that the Dongyue bracelet was the true fertility charm, explaining it was too valuable to carry and was safely stored at home. The Emperor then inquired about the Xuan River diversion project. Li Qian reported that the relocation of residents was proceeding too slowly, delaying construction. Li Mingyue suggested a tiered compensation system where those who moved first received more money, which she argued would naturally speed up the process.
Impressed by her cleverness, the Emperor asked about her travels. She shared stories of seeing a giant lizard worshipped as a god and of fighting off a skilled thief, impressing him with her worldliness and martial prowess. Li Qian praised her as a gem, and the Emperor encouraged them to have a child soon. As they left the palace, Li Mingyue immediately asked where her bracelet was.
Li Qian confirmed it was at their vast residence, implying she would have trouble finding it alone. Just then, they were confronted by King Ling, who demanded the bracelet from Li Mingyue. She recoiled in fear, but Li Qian stepped in, handed the bracelet to her for safekeeping, and engaged King Ling in a skirmish. Unable to win the fight, King Ling accused Li Qian of hiding something and threatened to tell the Emperor. Li Qian confidently countered that the Emperor would only praise him for having a "child-giving" treasure and invited King Ling to ask their father directly if he was so suspicious.
Episode 5 Recap
The morning after their wedding, Song Jinyu brought Li Qian nourishing medicine, emphasizing its importance after marriage. However, Li Qian refused the gift, tersely stating that he had not slept with her. A similar exchange occurred with Li Mingyue and her attendant, Tanli. Li Mingyue complained of body aches and exhaustion, revealing she had spent the night on a chair, finding it surprisingly hard and slippery.
Tanli, shocked, openly criticized Li Qian for making the princess sleep on a chair on their wedding night. That night, Li Qian was tormented by a nightmare, seeing a young boy, who appeared to be himself, desperately trying to escape a blazing fire while being held back. He awoke with a jolt, disoriented to find himself in Li Mingyue’s bed, his hand firmly clutching hers.
He quickly rose and stumbled out of the room, bumping into the door frame on his way. Li Mingyue, roused by the sound, caught a glimpse of a fleeing shadow and cried out, believing there was a thief. Servants searched the manor but found no intruder. Li Qian then emerged, feigning concern and claiming he had rushed out upon hearing her cries, despite not even wearing his outer robe. Li Mingyue, suspicious, questioned his disheveled appearance.
After the confusion settled, Li Mingyue, convinced it wasn't a mere nightmare, searched her room and discovered a man's belt. She vowed that if the “thief” dared to return, she would personally beat him up. Confused by his peculiar sleepwalking habit, which inexplicably led him to his "enemy’s bed," Li Qian sought answers.
His friend Song Jinyu found him looking at a book on intimate practices and began offering questionable advice on the "art of war" in romance, such as "playing hard to get." Their discussion was interrupted by the arrival of Princess Kangle and Sikong Zhen. Kangle teased a flustered Song Jinyu about his theories before taking Sikong Zhen with her to view a scroll.
After Song Jinyu's awkward departure, Li Qian later confessed his strange behaviors and uncontrollable sleepwalking to Sikong Zhen, who suggested he embrace it as an opportunity to "explore the unknown realm of life," hinting at a deeper, subconscious connection. That same night, Li Qian experienced another vivid dream, seeing himself surrounded by many children with Li Mingyue, eating and drinking together in a tent.
He awoke once more in Li Mingyue's bed, only to be promptly struck on the shoulder with a jade pillow by an infuriated Li Mingyue. Injured, Li Qian hastily fled her room. Determined to prevent any further nocturnal intrusions, Li Mingyue declared her intent to punish Li Qian for destroying their contract every night. She instructed Tanli to prepare a bag of soybeans, a large net, a rope, and numerous bells, intending to set elaborate traps in her room.
Meanwhile, Li Qian, equally intent on stopping his involuntary sleepwalking, drank two bowls of soothing soup and ordered his attendant, Queyan, to tie him up and nail his room door shut from the outside. Despite their preparations, the manor's servants began placing bets on whether Li Qian would manage to enter Li Mingyue's room, with most betting against him, though Fifth Orange and his subordinates remained confident in the prince.
The next morning, Li Qian once again found himself in Li Mingyue's bed. He noted with frustration that the six barriers he had put in place had utterly failed to stop him, musing that his martial skill had become a burden. As he lay there, Li Mingyue turned over and, to his surprise, embraced him in her sleep. Li Mingyue’s subsequent angry shout confirmed the victory of Fifth Orange and his subordinates in their wager.
As a consequence of the shoulder injury she inflicted, Li Mingyue was now forced to copy scriptures for Li Qian, grumbling that he was deliberately pretending to be sick to avoid his duties. Li Qian’s friends, Song Jinyu and Sikong Zhen, soon came to tease him. Song Jinyu spread a rumor that Li Qian had injured his arm during marital duties, calling it a "millennium anecdote."
Li Mingyue vehemently denied this, clarifying that she was the one who hit him and, to everyone's astonishment, revealed that she and Li Qian had not yet slept together. Sikong Zhen then offered his interpretation: Li Qian's repeated actions were due to his body being "often more honest than the mouth," suggesting a deeper emotional attachment.
He asserted that Li Mingyue was the key to resolving Li Qian's "distress from the amnesia," which was the underlying reason for his subconscious appearances by her side. Later, Qiao Huixin arrived at the manor and found Li Mingyue laboriously copying Buddhist scriptures. She immediately offered to help, stating she could mimic his handwriting very well, an offer Li Mingyue gladly accepted, calling her a savior.
Qiao Huixin then presented Li Mingyue with exquisite new clothes, suggesting they would make her so pretty and moving that the prince would stare at her. Li Mingyue dismissed this, stating she dressed to make herself happy, not for any man. She countered that men are like duckweed, not women, and advised Qiao Huixin, who possessed both a good family background and good looks, not to attach herself to men, but rather make them rely on women instead.
Li Mingyue expressed deep gratitude to Qiao Huixin, declaring that without her assistance, Li Qian would surely have punished her. She proposed they call each other sisters and warmly invited her to come often, citing her own boredom within the manor walls. After Qiao Huixin departed, Tanli warned Li Mingyue that Qiao Huixin’s true intention was not to help but to add trouble to her future, as she would frequently visit to pursue Li Qian.
However, Li Mingyue surprisingly welcomed the idea, stating she wanted her to dress up nicely to distract Li Qian's attention. Tanli was taken aback, but Li Mingyue simply joked about how a jealous wife might act, feigning horror at the thought of another woman coveting her husband.
Episode 6 Recap
Believing she had insights into King Zi's mysterious illness from Li Mingyue, Qiao Huixin hoped to alleviate his condition and rekindle their past connection. She procured a lantern and waited at a market until King Zi arrived. She asked if he remembered the story of the lantern, but he claimed to have forgotten.
Qiao Huixin recounted their youth, describing how he was a reserved and subtle boy, often bullied by other princes, and how she had gifted him the lantern to bring him comfort. Hearing these descriptions, King Zi was struck by their resonance with the timid boy from his dreams. He pressed her for more details, asking if the incident occurred when he was in a "sea of fire."
While Qiao Huixin could not confirm the fire, she affirmed it happened before his amnesia, leading him to conclude that the boy in his dreams was indeed his past self. Qiao Huixin then confessed her unwavering devotion, but King Zi did not reciprocate, returning the lantern before leaving. Upon his return, King Zi found Li Mingyue pretending to copy scriptures. He sarcastically noted her lack of progress and declared she would have to copy them day and night.
Incensed, Li Mingyue retorted that he had violated their contract first by entering her room, and she laid down four demands: no more forced scripture copying, secrecy about his arm injury, no more entering her room, and hiring a chef skilled in Xiyue cuisine. To her astonishment, King Zi readily agreed.
He then led Li Mingyue to a pond to feed fish, explaining that fish have short memories, much like a person who cannot face the future if they forget their past. He revealed that a sudden illness at age nine erased his memories, and it was only through her hypnosis that he began to recall a younger, unfamiliar version of himself.
Convinced the timid boy in his dreams was his past, he confessed that he agreed to her demands in exchange for her help in recovering his lost memories. Li Mingyue confidently assured him that inducing dreams to recover memories was her specialty. Li Mingyue initiated the hypnosis with her Zhuxin Bell. In the dream, King Zi found himself trapped in a terrifying fire, being dragged by someone whose face gradually resolved into that of his brother, Li Xun.
Upon waking, King Zi confirmed Li Xun was the one holding him back. He connected the fire to his amnesia, recalling that the battle for succession was fierce at the time, and after he fell ill and lost his memory, his mother also passed away suddenly. He vowed to keep his partial memory recovery a secret, declaring that if Li Xun was responsible, he would make him pay.
Meanwhile, news arrived that the Emperor was seeking someone to supervise the Xuanhe River diversion project, a task complicated by locals refusing to relocate. Sikong Zhen presented a copy of a painting from a village ancestral temple, suggesting it could be a tool to persuade the populace. Elsewhere, Princess Kangle, with Li Mingyue, finally cornered Song Jinyu at King Zi's residence.
She angrily confronted him for booking the Wanhua brothel for his birthday and getting a token from the head courtesan, forgetting his promise to her. King Zi interceded, helping Song Jinyu escape by telling Kangle to go home and study. As Song Jinyu left, he thanked King Zi, and Li Mingyue noted that King Zi now owed her a favor.
That night, King Zi sleepwalked again, and Li Mingyue playfully hit him with her slingshot, causing him to collapse onto his bed. The next morning, King Zi told Sikong Zhen he woke up with a new wound, suspecting Li Mingyue. Sikong Zhen teased him, pointing out that King Zi’s constant talk of Li Mingyue and his jealousy were signs of his affection. King Zi vehemently denied it, claiming he was only annoyed by her.
To prove his indifference, he declared he would ignore her completely, even if she were in danger. Concurrently, King Ling learned that the Emperor had assigned the Xuanhe project to King Zi. Deducing that King Zi's investigation into the palace fire from thirteen years ago must be linked to Li Mingyue's bracelet, King Ling also received intelligence that rebel forces would gather at Baiyun Mountain and ordered a letter to be sent to King Zi’s residence.
To enforce his feigned indifference, King Zi ordered his household not to mention Li Mingyue by name, using a cough instead. Annoyed by the sudden cold shoulder, Li Mingyue complained to Sikong Zhen, who gave her a Persian kite. As they flew it, King Zi watched from his room, visibly irritated. The kite got stuck in a tree, and as Li Mingyue climbed to retrieve it, she slipped and fell into Sikong Zhen's arms.
King Zi rushed out, pulled them apart, and in a flustered move, grabbed Sikong Zhen while warning Li Mingyue to stay away from his friend. Amused, Sikong Zhen openly teased King Zi, stating his actions revealed his true feelings. Frustrated by the accusation, King Zi asked why he had to prove his dislike, prompting Sikong Zhen to ask if he was trying to convince him or himself.
Infuriated, King Zi produced a divorce paper, falsely claiming his heart belonged to someone else and their contract was void. He ordered her to pack and return to Xiyue within a day, leaving Li Mingyue stunned.
Episode 7 Recap
Li Mingyue woke from a distressing dream where Li Qian, provoked by her friendship with Sikong Zhen, intended to divorce her. Disturbed by the omen, she vowed not to passively await her fate. Shortly after, a forged letter, supposedly from Princess Kangle, arrived, inviting Li Mingyue to Qihe Pavilion on Baiyun Mountain that afternoon. Believing the invitation to be real, Li Mingyue decided to use the trip to visit a temple and get a protective charm.
Despite Tanli's concerns about upsetting Li Qian, Li Mingyue insisted, leaving Tanli behind to cover for her absence. The next day, the real Kangle arrived at the mansion looking for Li Mingyue. Tanli tried to cover for her, claiming she was resting due to a cold. However, when Kangle denied writing the letter, Tanli realized they had been tricked and rushed to inform Li Qian.
He had already received intelligence that rebel remnants were gathering at Baiyun Mountain that day and immediately prepared to ride out. Meanwhile, King Ling had orchestrated the entire trap, sending a small force to the mountain not just to eliminate the rebels, but primarily to frame Li Mingyue by associating her with them. Unaware of the danger, Li Mingyue arrived at a desolate courtyard on Baiyun Mountain.
Still thinking Kangle was playing a prank, she went inside, only to overhear rebels plotting to use the Xuan River diversion project to destabilize the state and assassinate the Emperor. They quickly captured her, and upon finding a royal hairpin she carried, realized her high-ranking status. Just as they did, King Ling's forces attacked. In the ensuing chaos, a knockout incense was released, causing Li Mingyue to fall unconscious. When Li Qian arrived, he found the hideout ablaze.
Overcoming his profound fear of fire, he charged into the inferno to save Li Mingyue, sustaining burns in the process. The act of bravery led him to a powerful realization: true love meant being willing to face anything, even a sea of fire, for the one he cared about. Afterward, King Ling’s subordinate reported that Li Qian had unexpectedly rescued Li Mingyue.
The subordinate presented the golden hairpin she had dropped, confident it could be used as evidence to link her to the rebels. King Ling ordered him to present it to the Emperor the next day. Meanwhile, after ensuring Li Mingyue was safe, Li Qian met with Sikong Zhen. Deducing that King Ling was behind the plot, Li Qian planned to turn the scheme back on him.
Sikong Zhen congratulated him, noting that his love for Li Mingyue seemed to be curing him of his pyobia. Just then, a newly awakened Li Mingyue entered to thank Li Qian for saving her life. He feigned indifference, but when she noticed his injuries and tried to approach, he brusquely told her to leave. As she turned to go, she stumbled, and Li Qian instinctively caught her in his arms.
The following day in court, the Emperor praised King Ling and General Fang for quashing the rebels. General Fang then presented the golden hairpin, claiming it was found at the rebel hideout and implying Li Mingyue's involvement. The Emperor recognized it as a wedding gift from his consort, Madam Shu. At that moment, Li Qian arrived and calmly refuted the accusation, stating that Li Mingyue had been with Princess Kangle in the palace the entire previous day.
Palace guards and Kangle's personal maid were summoned, and both confirmed Li Qian’s alibi, which he had meticulously arranged the day before. Seeing through the frame-up, the Emperor simply instructed Li Qian to take back the hairpin and to strengthen his wife's security. Li Qian then impressed the Emperor by reporting that the agreements for the Xuan River diversion project had all been signed.
Later, Li Mingyue received a letter from her second brother, the Beixuan Emperor, who invited Li Qian to Beixuan to discuss trade relations. While praising her as a hero of her homeland, the letter also pressured her, implying that failing to secure King Zi’s favor would make her a traitor to her people. Tanli suggested the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Intrigued, Li Mingyue decided to discover Li Qian’s favorite food.
Feigning concern for his injuries, she offered him tea and used her hypnotic bell. Under her influence, Li Qian dreamt of his childhood, where his mother gave him a special homemade white jade osmanthus cake that was unusually salty and hard. Having learned his secret, Li Mingyue recreated the cake and brought it to Li Qian and Sikong Zhen. Li Qian, maintaining his aloofness, initially refused the "sweet" snack.
However, when Li Mingyue pointed out that the servants were watching, he relented and took a bite, finding the salty, hard cake to be uniquely nostalgic. Frustrated by his cold reception, Li Mingyue later complained to Tanli. Kangle overheard and offered her own advice, dismissing the idea of pleasing a man with food. She advocated for "training" men, comparing them to cats that could be made docile. Li Mingyue rejected this, preferring a relationship of equals.
Kangle then suggested that to build a real bond, they needed to spend time together outside the mansion—visiting markets, dining out, and having fun. Li Mingyue eagerly agreed, finding the idea of shared enjoyment far more appealing than manipulation.
Episode 8 Recap
Having tasted the white jade osmanthus cake, Li Qian found it initially salty and hard, then subtly dry, yet with a lingering, bitter-sweet aftertaste. He realized this was his exact preference and grew suspicious that Li Mingyue had used hypnosis on him. His attendant, Queyan, suggested Mingyue's actions were merely to please him, hinting that Li Qian's unusual taste might be linked to his lost memories. Later, Li Qian tasted the cake again in private.
Li Mingyue visited Li Qian, claiming her head wound was bothering her and asking for wound medicine. After he provided it, she feigned helplessness in applying it, prompting Li Qian to step in and assist.
This gave her the perfect opportunity to initiate a hypnotic sequence, instructing him that the next day he would wait at the palace gate, invite a woman in a red dress to Xing'an market, take her hand when she produced a peach flower handkerchief, and personally feed her when she expressed hunger. Mingyue was confident her "higher level of hypnosis" would ensure his compliance.
The following day, Li Mingyue eagerly prepared for her outing, only to discover her specific peach flower handkerchief was missing. Shortly after, a seemingly hypnotized Li Qian appeared at the gate and, to Mingyue's dismay, invited Qiao Huixin, who was coincidentally wearing a similar red dress. Mingyue quickly intervened, claiming he had mistaken them. Li Qian then repeated the invitation to Mingyue, and the three of them proceeded to the market together.
At the market, Li Mingyue was frustrated when Qiao Huixin inadvertently foiled her plan involving the handkerchief. Amidst the bustle, a mother and daughter running a stall were harassed by thugs. Mingyue courageously stepped in, and Li Qian followed, swiftly subduing the assailants with impressive skill. The grateful mother offered them a complimentary meal. As Li Qian, still under hypnosis, ordered fried rice, Qiao Huixin discreetly excused herself.
Delighted, Mingyue anticipated Li Qian feeding her, but just as he leaned in, a small bell on her wrist chimed, suddenly breaking the trance. Startled and disoriented, Li Qian was enraged. He furiously accused Mingyue of toying with his emotions, questioning the authenticity of his recent actions and feelings, from his fondness for the osmanthus cake to her very attire. Though Mingyue tried to explain her feelings were genuine, a betrayed Li Qian stormed off.
As Mingyue's tears fell, Qiao Huixin, who had observed from a distance, grew convinced that Mingyue possessed "black magic." Back at the residence, a distraught Li Mingyue wondered if Li Qian would divorce her. Queyan reassured her, revealing that Li Qian had eaten all of the osmanthus cake she had made earlier, suggesting he did not truly despise her. Reinvigorated, Mingyue brought a fresh batch of cakes to Li Qian, who was practicing archery.
Still furious, he dismissed her as a "liar." Undeterred, Mingyue defiantly stood before the target. Li Qian drew his bow and released an arrow that narrowly grazed her hair, causing her to burst into tears. That night, Li Qian returned to the archery field. He rebuffed Queyan's suggestion that he was worried about Mingyue, ordering him to tell her to stay away.
The next morning, Queyan discovered the arrows from the target were gone and the target itself had been treated with healing ointment. Noticing the same medicinal scent in Li Qian's room, Li Qian concluded he must be suffering from sleepwalking, a side effect he attributed to Mingyue's hypnosis. Meanwhile, Qiao Huixin remained perplexed by Li Qian's behavior.
King Ling, Li Qian's brother, visited her and shared his own suspicions about Li Qian's strangeness, directly implicating Li Mingyue and her "bewitching spells." He speculated that Li Qian might be willingly manipulated to benefit Xiyue. Huixin vehemently rejected this, but King Ling pointed out that Li Qian had recently defended Mingyue against accusations of colluding with rebels, insisting his brother was "deeply poisoned" by the "demon girl."
Now convinced Mingyue's abilities could restore Li Qian's memories, King Ling was summoned to the palace to discuss an upcoming royal hunt. He seized the opportunity, proposing to the Emperor that Princess Consort Zi (Li Mingyue) and Qiao Huixin should both attend. Li Qian objected, citing the male-only tradition of the hunt. King Ling countered that Huixin's presence would provide a suitable female companion, questioning if Li Qian had other reasons to object.
The Emperor, overriding Li Qian's protests, approved the proposal. He declared that his intent was to demonstrate the might of Beixuan's royal family to Mingyue, thereby ensuring Xiyue's future loyalty, and tasked King Ling with arranging the hunt.
Episode 9 Recap
As Li Mingyue fretted over Li Qian's anger, her maid Tanli suggested she missed him. Mingyue denied it, clarifying her real fear was that he would divorce her, which would damage the alliance between Xiyue and Beixuan. Soon after, Li Qian arrived at her residence to inform her that she was required to join him and his father, the Emperor, on a hunting expedition the next day.
Thrilled by the prospect of hunting, Li Mingyue asked if he was no longer angry and eagerly offered to showcase her riding and archery skills to bring him glory. She instructed Tanli to retrieve her cherished bows and riding attire, but before she could show them off, Li Qian abruptly ordered Diwu Cheng to confiscate them.
He sternly warned her that at the crowded hunting ground, she must act like a proper queen, even if it meant pretending, and forbade her from wearing any Xiyue clothing. Indignant, Li Mingyue declared she would not go, but Li Qian gave her a stark choice: either attend the hunt or return to Xiyue. He also demanded that she leave her Zhuxin Bell at the residence.
Observing Li Mingyue's distress, Diwu Cheng gently suggested to Li Qian that she might have misunderstood his good intentions. Though Li Qian initially denied having any, Diwu Cheng deduced that his master was worried King Ling might have planned something at the hunting ground. Li Qian then revealed his true concerns: he feared King Ling could tamper with Mingyue's bow to frame her for injuring someone, which would make him accountable.
He also explained that as Beixuan's queen, not Xiyue's princess, her native attire would make the Emperor suspicious. Diwu Cheng summarized that Li Qian was protecting Li Mingyue from being framed and from arousing the Emperor's distrust, though Li Qian stubbornly maintained his actions were "for himself." Diwu Cheng concluded by advising that if Li Mingyue appeared sullen at the hunt, it would undermine his protective efforts.
On the day of the hunt, Li Mingyue arrived at the hunting ground, visibly disheartened and lamenting that she was forced to wear "pretty but useless" attire instead of displaying her skills. Li Qian reiterated his warnings to behave, not wander off, and to wait for him in his camp. Shortly after, Qiao Huixin arrived, and King Ling immediately approached to express concern for her well-being.
Upset after seeing Li Qian with Li Mingyue, Huixin responded resentfully that she disliked riding and shooting. King Ling apologized for not considering her feelings, explaining he only wanted her to relax, and she fell silent. Inside Li Qian’s camp, Li Mingyue was surprised to find her confiscated bows and riding attire. She briefly wondered if Li Qian had prepared them for her before dismissing the thought.
Li Qian then entered and confirmed the gear was for her to use in the hunt. Feigning meek compliance, Li Mingyue reminded him of his instructions to behave, but he insisted she wear them, promising to personally "keep an eye on her." She then challenged him to stay and watch her change so as not to arouse suspicion. Li Qian turned his back, vowing not to peek, but Mingyue deliberately tossed her discarded clothes at him, including an intimate undergarment.
After declaring he wouldn't look, Li Qian stole a glance, then, flustered, handed the undergarment back and fled the tent. Emerging in her riding attire, a radiant Li Mingyue found a captivated Li Qian. She playfully teased him, asking if he looked good and if he regretted his hasty exit. Recovering, he claimed he was just checking if her attire was proper, to which she audaciously challenged him to "personally re-dress her" if it wasn't.
Flustered, Li Qian urged her to hurry so they would not keep the Emperor waiting. As the hunting party gathered, the Emperor declared that everyone must demonstrate their skills to showcase Beixuan's valor. He specifically instructed Li Mingyue to display her riding and archery, eager to compare her Xiyue abilities to Beixuan's. Announcing a grand reward for the most prey, the Emperor set the hunt in motion.
As everyone galloped off, Qiao Huixin called out to Li Qian, asking if they now needed a reason to speak privately. He dismounted to walk and talk with her. Meanwhile, Li Mingyue became separated from the group while pursuing a rabbit and unknowingly rode into an ambush, where she was struck by a poisoned arrow. Qiao Huixin expressed her concern that Li Mingyue's unrestrained nature was unsuited for Li Qian and would cause him trouble.
Li Qian firmly stated that their former engagement was a matter of fate and that he had no intention of taking a second wife, urging her to let go. Heartbroken, Huixin voiced her deepest fear, accusing Li Mingyue of being a "demon girl" who was using Xiyue sorcery to bewitch him.
Li Qian angrily dismissed her claims as slander, warning her that if she ever repeated such nonsense, he would disregard their past friendship because Li Mingyue, despite any perceived faults, was his queen. As Huixin pressed on, asking if he truly felt no suspicion, Li Qian spotted the bow he had prepared for Li Mingyue lying on the ground. Realizing she was in danger, he immediately mounted his horse and rode off in search of her.
Meanwhile, a weakened Li Mingyue struggled to fend off her attackers, urging herself to hold on for Xiyue and for her life. Just as she was about to collapse, Li Qian arrived. He fired three arrows at once, felling three assailants, then used his bow to strike down the last one. After scolding her for not listening to his warnings, he swiftly pulled the arrow from her leg.
Explaining the wound was poisoned, he ignored his own meticulousness about cleanliness and sucked the poison from the wound. As they rested by the river, Li Mingyue realized with concern that Li Qian had been infected by the poison himself while saving her. Li Qian suggested they return, offering to carry her back to camp, which she accepted. At the camp entrance, Qiao Huixin had been waiting anxiously.
She was devastated to see them return on a single horse, watching as Li Qian carried Li Mingyue into their tent. She questioned her foolishness for staying only to witness their affection. King Ling appeared behind her, draping a cloak over her shoulders and advising her to go back to her tent, assuring her that Li Qian was safe.
Inside the tent, Li Qian explained that her injury must be kept secret, so they could not call for a royal physician, and confirmed that his public display of carrying her was a deliberate act to hide the true nature of her wound. He offered to treat the injury himself, but a shy Li Mingyue tried to refuse.
Hearing her involuntary gasp of pain, Li Qian assertively took over, meticulously bandaging the wound and assuring her it would heal in a few days. As night fell, they had to share the sleeping space. Li Qian gently took her hand, and as Li Mingyue gazed at him, she felt an unexpected sense of tranquility, wondering if he had always been so handsome or if the poison was making her delirious.
Episode 10 Recap
Li Mingyue woke up, and seeing Li Qian's handsome sleeping face, she playfully considered kissing him. However, before she could move, Li Qian stirred. Li Mingyue quickly shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep. Li Qian woke to find her brow furrowed and, mistaking her expression for pain, tried to rouse her. Li Mingyue, hoping he might kiss her, kept her eyes shut. Exasperated and thinking she was having a nightmare, Li Qian forcefully pushed her awake.
Annoyed, Li Mingyue decided to change the dressing on her wound herself, internally vowing to get back at him later. That day, Li Qian set strict rules for Li Mingyue: she was forbidden from riding, archery, and leaving his side. Li Mingyue questioned why he had not reported the previous day's assassination attempt to the Emperor. Li Qian explained that doing so would have ended the hunt, preventing him from luring out the assassin to discover the true culprit.
He admitted to leaving Diwu Cheng behind specifically to draw the assassin out again. Feigning bravery, Li Mingyue declared she would protect him. Meanwhile, Li Xun had already discerned Li Qian's plan. He instructed his subordinate not to act and instead to place the bodies from the previous day's failed attempt where they could be easily found by guards, intending to make his father suspicious of Li Mingyue. Qiao Huixin overheard this conversation.
When confronted, Li Xun feigned concern, claiming he was trying to protect his ninth brother from Li Mingyue's "enchantment." Unconvinced, Qiao Huixin demanded he promise to only target Li Mingyue and not harm Li Qian, threatening to report him to the Emperor if he did. Unwilling to hurt her, Li Xun reluctantly agreed. Later, a minister reported the discovery of assassins' corpses. The Emperor summoned King Ling (Li Xun) and ordered him to investigate.
However, King Ling defied the order's premise, claiming the assassins were not targeting the Emperor. He stated he had witnessed Queen Zi (Li Mingyue) returning to camp injured, an incident King Zi (Li Qian) deliberately concealed. King Ling suggested it was a foreign plot to injure Li Mingyue and frame Beixuan, and that King Zi had secretly disposed of the assassins' bodies to help her, making his concealment highly suspicious.
Enraged by the accusations and lack of fraternal loyalty, the Emperor silenced him. The Emperor then revealed that King Zi had visited him the previous night, requesting the hunt continue and the incident remain private to protect King Ling's reputation, as King Ling was responsible for the hunting ground's security. King Zi had also assured him that the assassins were weak and that Diwu Cheng was secretly protecting the Emperor.
The Emperor furiously contrasted King Zi's concern for his brother with King Ling's failure in his security duties and subsequent attempt to frame his sibling. Unable to tolerate the fraternal strife, he ordered King Ling to return to his residence for reflection. Afterward, Li Xun bitterly accused Li Qian of engineering his punishment. Li Qian coolly replied that Li Xun could only blame his own missteps and reminded him to guard the Emperor diligently on their return.
Upon returning to King Zi's mansion, Li Qian's demeanor towards Li Mingyue changed drastically. He helped her dismount and forbade her from leaving the house, practicing martial arts, or strenuous activity, insisting she rest and take her medicine. Li Mingyue shyly agreed, much to the astonishment of the servants, who were already gossiping about the couple's newfound intimacy during the hunt, such as Li Qian carrying her and them sharing a tent.
Sikong Zhen noted Li Qian's unusual care, which Li Qian dismissed as necessity. Princess Kangle and Song Jinyu teased the pair about their closeness. While Li Mingyue denied any romantic feelings, Song Jinyu pointed out the contrast between Li Qian's previous harshness and recent attentiveness, and Sikong Zhen asserted that Li Qian had changed because of Li Mingyue, which in turn would change her feelings for him.
Rejecting Princess Kangle's advice on manipulative romantic strategies, Li Mingyue stated her belief in sincerity over trickery. As a gesture of gratitude for Li Qian saving her, she decided to personally prepare a nourishing soup for him. Meanwhile, Li Qian confided in Sikong Zhen, admitting he feared his developing feelings for Li Mingyue were merely a residual effect of her hypnosis and questioning their authenticity.
Sikong Zhen dismissed this, emphasizing that feelings, once sparked, are real regardless of their origin, and advised him to trust his heart. Later, Qiao Huixin visited the mansion but was informed by a servant that King Zi had ordered her not to visit so often. Learning that Li Mingyue was acting unusually by personally preparing a soup in the kitchen, Qiao Huixin suspected foul play. She rushed in and demanded to inspect the soup.
In the ensuing scuffle, the soup was spilled. Qiao Huixin accused Li Mingyue of using sinister Xiyue tricks. Angered, Li Mingyue challenged the suspicious Qiao Huixin to drink the soup. When Qiao Huixin hesitated, Li Mingyue defiantly drank from the broken bowl herself before storming off. Alone, Qiao Huixin questioned her actions but remained resolute in preventing Li Qian from being "seduced." Undeterred, Li Mingyue returned to the kitchen to remake the soup.
As she brought the finished soup to Li Qian, she overheard him discussing his plans with Sikong Zhen. He surmised that Li Xun was behind the assassination attempt, likely because he knew she could help restore his memory. He then coldly stated his priority was to use Li Mingyue to regain his memories, confront Li Xun, and control Xiyue's power.
He concluded that whether she was Aimaila of Xiyue or Li Mingyue of Beixuan, she was merely a chess piece in his grand scheme. As long as she served her purpose as his queen, he was willing to provide her with a sense of security. Devastated, Li Mingyue heard every word.
Episode 11 Recap
Reeling from overhearing Li Qian call her a mere chess piece, Li Mingyue drops the restorative soup she made for him. By the time Li Qian and Sikong Zhen open the door, they only see her retreating figure. Sikong Zhen points out that Li Qian's harsh words were likely a lie even to himself and questions if he will allow the misunderstanding to continue.
Li Qian, however, believes it might be for the better, bringing a somber clarity to them both. Feeling used, Li Mingyue flees to Princess Kangle's residence and drinks until she is thoroughly intoxicated. Li Qian arrives to take her back, and seeing her drunken state, forbids her from drinking ever again. Defiantly, Li Mingyue declares that no one can control her.
When Li Qian presses her on what she wants, she grabs his face and kisses him on the lips, only to immediately vomit all over him. Upon returning to the residence, a disgusted Li Qian orders his soiled clothes to be burned. That night, however, he sleepwalks and washes the very same clothes himself. Still in denial about his feelings, he internally blames his sleepwalking on Li Mingyue's hypnotism, insisting that she is nothing more than a chess piece.
The next morning, Li Mingyue wakes with a headache, muttering that she is not a pawn. Tanli brings her hangover soup, sent by the prince. Though initially touched, Mingyue refuses it upon learning it's from Li Qian. Tanli, surprised, reminds her that Li Qian was the one who carried her home, covered in her vomit. Just then, Li Qian arrives. Li Mingyue quickly lies down, feigning sleep.
When Li Qian reaches out to check her forehead, she turns away to avoid his touch. Sensing her reluctance, he leaves, instructing Tanli to take good care of her. Once he is gone, Li Mingyue lies in bed, silently weeping and questioning why she cannot bear to see him, while Tanli offers what little comfort she can. Li Qian has been restless since the previous night.
He asks his attendant, Queyan, if Tanli has said anything about the princess's thoughts on him. Missing the point, Queyan only rambles about Mingyue's complaints about the food and her friendship with Kangle. The impatient Diwu Cheng interjects, bluntly stating that the princess kissed the prince, who is now clearly smitten and wants to know her true feelings. As Queyan offers his flustered congratulations, an exposed Li Qian dismisses him.
Diwu Cheng correctly observes that Li Qian's agitation stems from his budding feelings. Still trying to blame his turmoil on hypnosis, Li Qian is reminded by Diwu Cheng that Mingyue hasn't used the technique on him in a long time. Unsure how to get answers, he sends Song Jinyu to discreetly ask Princess Kangle about Mingyue's state of mind, but Kangle easily sees through the ruse.
Unable to understand the meaning behind Mingyue's kiss, Li Qian paces outside her room, resolving to ask her directly and clear the air. Before he can enter, Queyan reports that Qiao Huixin is insistent on seeing him. Qiao Huixin is worried Li Qian misunderstood her for spilling the first bowl of soup. Li Qian, feeling no affection for her, speaks bluntly, reprimanding her for misjudging Mingyue and showing no remorse.
Qiao Huixin argues that love is selfish, but Li Qian coldly states he has never had romantic feelings for her and warns her to stay away. Delusional, Qiao Huixin leaves, convinced Mingyue's "black magic" is clouding Li Qian's judgment. Worried he has completely disheartened Mingyue, Li Qian confides in Sikong Zhen. Song Jinyu returns and reports what he learned from Kangle: Mingyue had been drunkenly mumbling about being a "chess piece" and smashing things in anger.
This confirms Li Qian's fears. Sikong Zhen urges him to be honest, warning that misunderstandings will drive them apart. Since Mingyue won't see him, Sikong Zhen proposes a plan: Mingyue's brother, Kaierbi, is about to arrive, and she will surely want to present a stable front for her family. This is Li Qian's chance to show genuine care and prove she is more than a pawn. Li Qian agrees, knowing he must drop his princely arrogance.
When Kaierbi arrives with Xiyue's Left General, Yunsi, the general's familiar and affectionate behavior toward Li Mingyue is immediately apparent. Yunsi, who grew up with Mingyue, even brings her personally brewed wine, which instantly puts Li Qian on guard. Li Qian declares that the princess should not drink to avoid impropriety and tries to confiscate the wine. A tense struggle ensues, with Yunsi insisting his wine is harmless and that he would protect her.
The wine ends up with Kaierbi, who apologizes for Yunsi's forwardness. Annoyed, Li Qian tells a defiant Mingyue to drink if she pleases. At the welcoming banquet, Li Qian intercepts every cup of wine offered to Li Mingyue, drinking on her behalf. He then deliberately feeds her grapes, much to Yunsi's irritation. Sensing the tension, Kaierbi suggests they retire early. However, Mingyue invites them to tour her quarters, where Yunsi happily presents her with her favorite Xiyue pastries.
Recognizing Li Qian's displeasure, Kaierbi quickly ushers Yunsi away. Later, Tanli remarks that the prince was clearly jealous, but Mingyue dismisses it, clinging to the "chess piece" narrative and blaming Li Qian's pride. Shortly after, a valuable saber is delivered from the official rest stop with a message from Yunsi. He calls the saber a gift and challenges Li Qian to a sparring match the next day to settle the "slip of the hand" from their earlier encounter.
Fueled by anger, Li Qian accepts the challenge by slicing through a candle flame. The household immediately begins placing bets. Diwu Cheng and his men bet on Li Qian, while Tanli and others favor Yunsi, Xiyue's undefeated master. Li Mingyue, however, places her bet on both, confidently declaring she will win no matter what.
Episode 12 Recap
Following their martial arts contest, Yunsi unexpectedly intruded upon Li Qian's bath, brazenly entering the tub himself. When Li Qian moved to leave, Yunsi challenged him for being stingy, compelling Li Qian to reluctantly return to avoid appearing petty. Yunsi remarked that while Li Qian's swordsmanship was slightly superior, he was thinner than expected. He then explained the Xiyue custom that after competing and bathing, warriors must share a drink to prove the fight was without reservation.
Annoyed, Li Qian offered to let Yunsi have the bath to himself. Just then, Li Mingyue appeared outside the curtain, claiming she was only there to announce that the food and wine were ready. However, her lingering gaze on the scene prompted a warning look from Li Qian, and she quickly departed, privately concluding that Yunsi's physique was better. Li Qian and Yunsi proceeded to their drinking session.
Li Qian offered a Beixuan wine, which Yunsi dismissed as tasteless, demanding his own stronger Xiyue liquor. Yunsi declared that he would always be wherever "Aimaila" was, regardless of the distance. Li Qian thanked him and Kaierbi for their care of Mingyue in Xiyue, which led to their marriage. Yunsi described Aimaila's spirited and just nature, worrying that Beixuan's rigid rules would stifle her.
Li Qian countered that Mingyue was thriving and that as his consort, he would protect her from any disrespect. Dissatisfied with small cups, Yunsi insisted they drink from large bowls. Li Qian's tolerance for alcohol proved no match for Yunsi's, and he succumbed to intoxication first. Before passing out, Yunsi announced his plan to take Aimaila to the market the next day, taking Li Qian's drunken silence as consent. In his drunken state, Li Qian stumbled into Li Mingyue's room.
He pulled her hands to his waist and recounted their first meeting on a snowy night, declaring how beautiful she was. He possessively stated that only he was allowed to see all of her different sides. Stunned by this sudden confession, Mingyue tried to question him about his previous claim that she was merely a chess piece, but he had already fallen asleep. Meanwhile, Li Xun, still in seclusion, worried that Li Qian was gaining too much control.
When a minister reported that the Emperor wanted to quell a rebellion, Li Xun saw an opportunity. His followers suggested they recommend him for the command, but Li Xun devised a more cunning plan. He instructed them to recommend Li Qian instead, knowing the Emperor was suspicious of his own growing influence.
Li Xun correctly predicted that since Li Qian could not leave the capital with the Xiyue envoy present, the Emperor would have no choice but to send him, thereby granting him the military command without arousing suspicion. That night, Li Qian had another sleepwalking episode, in which he mimicked Yunsi, speaking of traveling the world with Aimaila and disparaging Beixuan's wine.
The next day, Li Mingyue toured the city with Yunsi and Kaierbi, but she was distracted by Li Qian's drunken words, wondering if she truly was just a pawn to him. During the outing, Yunsi suggested that she should leave Beixuan with him. Kaierbi immediately scolded Yunsi, warning him not to overstep the boundaries of propriety and to remember his promise not to harbor any delusions about Mingyue.
An attendant overheard Yunsi's proposition and reported to Li Qian that the Left General intended to take the queen away, implying elopement. Agitated by the news, Li Qian, accompanied by Sikong Zhen, rushed to the market. He arrived just as Mingyue nearly stumbled. Both Li Qian and Yunsi reached out to steady her, but in the confusion, neither succeeded, and Mingyue fell to the ground.
Afterward, a message arrived that the Emperor had appointed Li Xun to lead the campaign against the rebels. Li Qian’s attendant urged him to fight for the command, but Li Qian refused, stating that his brother leading the campaign would be good for morale. The attendant correctly inferred that Li Qian's true reason was his reluctance to leave Mingyue, which earned him a sharp rebuke and a punishment of squatting in a horse stance for four hours.
Before his departure, Li Xun visited a distraught Qiao Huixin. He informed her that he was leaving for a dangerous campaign and wanted to finally confess his feelings in case he did not return. Although she tried to stop him, Li Xun gently asserted that she knew what she meant to him and urged her to do nothing foolish and wait for his return. Later that evening, Yunsi found Mingyue in the garden, still upset with Li Qian.
He pushed her on a swing, reminding her of a time in Xiyue when he had built and pushed a swing for her. Mingyue, however, only recalled Tanli and her brother Kaierbi pushing her, believing Yunsi was mistaken. Sensing her distance, Yunsi told her that with Li Qian absent, she didn't need to pretend to be his wife or just a sister to him. Confused, Mingyue insisted that he was her best brother and could be nothing else.
Frustrated, Yunsi embraced her, desperately pleading with her to remember their past. At that moment, Li Qian appeared and pushed Yunsi away. He declared that the night was too deep for him to sleep alone and that he had come to escort Mingyue back to rest, much to her bewildered protest.
Episode 13 Recap
Following their confrontation, Li Mingyue questions if she is merely a pawn in Li Qian’s schemes but stops herself, deciding it is too exhausting to seek clarity. She assumes he wants her to act as a fake couple to deceive her second brother. When Li Qian asks if she truly doesn't want an answer, she dismisses the topic, quoting a Xiyue proverb about the futility of overthinking.
Remembering Sikong Zhen’s advice to show his sincerity through actions, Li Qian ends the conversation and tells her to rest. Later that night, both struggle to sleep. Li Qian surprises Li Mingyue by apologizing for causing her to fall earlier. She accepts, admitting her own carelessness. He checks her shoulder wound, noting it's minor, but seeing her restlessness, he asks why she is upset.
When she replies that she's annoyed, Li Qian mistakenly assumes it's because of her actions toward him during their drunken encounter. A confused Li Mingyue denies this, questioning what she supposedly did. Overwhelmed, Li Qian suddenly kisses her, leaving her flustered. He quickly pulls away, sensing he is losing control, and awkwardly declares them "even." Alone, Li Mingyue is bewildered by the kiss and her own lack of resistance, attributing it to hypnosis and telling herself not to overthink it.
She also reflects on Yunsi's strange behavior and Li Qian's unpredictable moods, dismissing Tanli's suggestion that Li Qian is jealous by reasoning that Yunsi is her good friend and Li Qian has never truly considered her his wife. The next day, Yunsi arrives and invites Li Mingyue to a horse farm he has bought for her in the suburbs. Excited, she agrees. Tanli advises her to inform Li Qian, but Yunsi persuades her not to.
Li Mingyue concurs, fearing Li Qian would either stop them or insist on joining and ruin the fun. However, as they are about to leave, Li Qian intercepts them, fabricating an urgent summons from the Emperor for a midday greeting, an unusual royal custom. Frustrated by Li Qian's interference and sensing Li Mingyue's growing distance, Yunsi confronts Kaierbi. He demands to know what threats forced her into the marriage.
Kaierbi denies any coercion, insisting Li Mingyue agreed to the marriage willingly and now has genuine feelings for Li Qian. He sternly warns Yunsi to abandon his affections, questioning if he intends to ruin her happiness. At the palace, Li Qian and Li Mingyue greet the Emperor and Consort Shu. Li Qian claims Li Mingyue had wished to visit and apologizes for interrupting their meal. The Empress welcomes them, and the Emperor invites them to drink.
When Li Qian notices Li Mingyue’s discomfort, he expresses concern, suggesting she may have caught a cold. The conversation turns to heirs, with the Empress noting their lack of a child. Li Mingyue mischievously interjects that it might be "a little difficult," causing the Emperor to wonder if Li Qian has a hidden ailment. The Empress dismisses this and, upon their departure, gives them fertility medicine prepared by the royal physicians. Upon returning to the manor, they find Yunsi waiting.
He again invites Li Mingyue out for the next day, suggesting riding and archery at the horse farm. Li Qian immediately forbids it, citing the Emperor’s instructions and the fertility medicine. Undeterred, Yunsi proposes a visit to the Jinxiu Restaurant instead. Li Qian thwarts this plan as well, claiming they must visit Sikong Zhen, who is suddenly ill. Left with no choice, Li Mingyue agrees.
That evening, a disgruntled Li Mingyue gags on the bitter fertility medicine, muttering that Li Qian should be the one drinking it. He then enters her chamber, intending to sleep with her. She refuses, demanding he explain why he keeps obstructing her meetings with her brother and Yunsi. When he doesn't give a clear answer, he embraces her and pulls her onto the bed. Li Mingyue pushes him away and storms off to sleep in Tanli’s room.
Defeated, Li Qian orders Queyan to send her quilt and pillow, ensuring she stays warm. During the night, Li Qian sleepwalks again. He finds Li Mingyue’s pillow, smells it, and then proceeds to drink three bowls of the bitter fertility medicine, even rubbing his stomach as if he were pregnant.
The next morning, as Li Qian and Li Mingyue prepare to visit Sikong Zhen, Yunsi appears with a potent Xiyue elixir, insisting on joining them to help Li Mingyue's ailing friend. Despite Li Qian's objections, Yunsi climbs into their carriage. At Sikong Zhen’s manor, Li Qian signals his friend, who feigns illness. Yunsi offers his elixir, but the charade is exposed when Song Jinyu arrives, asking why Sikong Zhen isn't at the Cuihong Pavilion for their scheduled music session.
Cornered, Li Qian angrily admits he faked the illness because he couldn't stand her being with other men. Surprisingly, his confession pleases Li Mingyue, who, tired of the arguing, goes to the kitchen to bake pastries for everyone. In the kitchen, Yunsi joins her and reminisces about the first time she made pastries for his birthday. Li Mingyue, however, has no memory of this, insisting she only learned to bake for Li Qian after arriving in Beixuan.
Yunsi presses further, asking if she recalls him being present when she delivered the foal, Feng, or him teaching her to shoot three arrows at once. She remembers the events but misattributes his role to her father or brother. Disturbed by her memory loss, Yunsi expresses concern, but she dismisses it as a bad memory, reiterating that he is her best friend before sending him out.
Li Mingyue presents her bizarre pastries, an experimental blend of herbs, meats, and vegetables with sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty flavors. While everyone else recoils, Li Qian eats several pieces. He explains that though the taste is strange, the thought behind them is profound; she remembered someone’s dislike for sweets and made them with that person in mind. He declares that the pastry's sweetness lies not in its flavor, but in her heart.
He takes her hand, and she smiles sweetly, while Yunsi watches, consumed by jealousy and anguish. He laments that she can remember small details about Li Qian but has forgotten their entire shared history. As a heavy rain begins, Yunsi sits alone in a pavilion, overwhelmed with despair. He sweeps the cups from the table in frustration. In that moment, a realization dawns on him: he whispers the name "Zhuxin Bell," suspecting hypnosis is the cause of her lost memories.
Episode 14 Recap
Yunsi stormed into Kaierbi's room, accusing him of hypnotizing Aimaila. Yunsi argued that Aimaila's proud nature would have never allowed her to accept the marriage alliance willingly and that her memory loss concerning their shared past, including him teaching her to shoot three arrows, was undeniable proof. Kaierbi did not deny the accusation, stating only that she was now Li Mingyue, Queen Zi of Beixuan, and her heart belonged to Li Qian.
Yunsi retorted that this was only because Kaierbi had erased him from her memory. When Kaierbi claimed the hypnosis was irreversible, Yunsi vowed to find a way to restore her memories himself, declaring that once Aimaila learned the truth, she would reject both her duplicitous brother and her title as queen.
Kaierbi warned that such recklessness could damage the alliance between Beixuan and Xiyue, but Yunsi was undeterred, proclaiming he would face any consequence, even the wrath of the Xiyue King or the opposition of the entire world. Elsewhere, Li Qian savored the unique pastries Li Mingyue had prepared. She had intentionally blended the flavors of Beixuan and Xiyue, incorporating sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty tastes to cater to everyone's preference.
To his subordinate, Li Qian mused that only he could truly appreciate the pastry's underlying sweetness, likening it to a person whose unconventional nature might be off-putting at first but reveals an irreplaceable sincerity upon getting to know them. Soon after, a secret report arrived from the front line detailing King Ling's swift but brutal suppression of the rebellion, which included massacring an entire city.
The report also raised concerns about the defense of Mo City, a vital strategic location, now that its garrison was likely eliminated. Li Qian reacted to the news with a cold, knowing smirk. That evening, as Li Mingyue waited outside for Li Qian, feigning indifference, Yunsi appeared. He emotionally declared that she, Aimaila, was originally his. He explained that her second brother, Kaierbi, had hypnotized her before she left for Beixuan, causing her to forget their love.
Li Mingyue dismissed his claims as nonsense, but Yunsi swore an oath and presented evidence. He revealed that he, a member of the Pugu clan, had taught her their unique technique of shooting three arrows simultaneously. He also reminded her of things she couldn't recall, like how he had helped care for her frail horse, Feng. He pointed out that all the gaps in her memory centered around his absence.
Taking the scimitar she always carried, he revealed it was a love token he had forged for her, a matching pair to his own. In Xiyue, he explained, exchanging paired scimitars signified a lifelong vow of shared destiny. Though shaken, Li Mingyue accused him of fabricating stories out of jealousy, insisting she had not lost her memory. Undeterred, Yunsi vowed to prove the truth to her and departed.
Hesitant to face potential rejection, Li Qian was contemplating visiting Li Mingyue when she arrived at his study with wine. He quickly feigned sleep, but she woke him, proposing a game: one cup of wine for one true statement. Her first question was whether feelings born from hypnosis could be considered real.
Misinterpreting this as a doubt about his own feelings for her, Li Qian quickly affirmed that they were, insisting that the origin of love is less important than the love itself. He then asked if she regretted becoming his queen, to which she answered with uncertainty, leading to a tense exchange. As they drank more, an intoxicated Li Mingyue confessed that, like him, she felt she had lost a vital memory.
She described how trying to remember her past felt like an invisible hand obscuring her vision, leaving her with only painful, fragmented images. Li Qian empathized, advising that confronting the past, though painful, was necessary to find peace. He apologized for hypnotizing her, and she, in turn, thanked him, saying he had opened the door to her past and that she felt happy with him. He promised to stand by her no matter what she had to face.
Soon after, she passed out. Later that night, Li Qian, in a state of sleepwalking, began feeding pastries to the still-unconscious Li Mingyue in his room, falling asleep himself beside her. The next morning, Li Mingyue awoke with pastry crumbs on her face, horrified to find herself in Li Qian's room with no memory of the previous night's end. Her confusion deepened when Tanli confirmed hearing strange, loud noises from the room.
Just then, Yunsi arrived, having searched everywhere for her. Finding her in Li Qian's chambers, he insisted he could no longer let the situation continue and had to take her to the official rest stop to show her undeniable proof of her past. Recalling Li Qian's words about the pain of confronting the past versus the burden of an unresolved heart, Li Mingyue agreed to go, determined not to run from the truth any longer.
At court, the ministers furiously debated King Ling's actions. Li Qian shifted the focus, stating his primary concern was the security of Mo City. He reasoned that King Ling's massacre implied the city's original garrison, suspected of harboring rebels, had been wiped out. Li Qian stressed Mo City's strategic importance as a critical fortress.
The Emperor, enraged to learn from a minister that King Ling had replaced the imperial guards with his own loyalists without reporting it, began to contemplate appointing a Crown Prince. He then entrusted Li Qian with full authority to quell the remainder of the rebellion. Yunsi brought Li Mingyue to the rest stop, which he had decorated overnight with purple flowers to resemble Yuechu Valley, their special place.
He described their vows to each other—he played the guqin while she danced, declaring themselves eternally bound. Though she found the vows "cheesy," she admitted the place felt familiar. As Yunsi played the guqin and sang their vows of eternal love, Li Mingyue showed a flicker of recognition, whispering the final words along with him. Believing her memory was restored, Yunsi excitedly embraced her. However, she pulled back, stating her name was Mingyue and that she wanted to go home.
As Yunsi tried to persuade her to return to Xiyue, Li Qian arrived. He fiercely shoved Yunsi aside, threatening to kill him if he touched Li Mingyue again. Li Mingyue tearfully asked to be taken back to the manor, and Li Qian carried her away. Back at the manor, Li Qian tended to a distraught Li Mingyue.
He tried to gently ask if she remembered anything, but she interrupted, confessing her mind was in chaos and she desperately needed to recall everything at once. He reminded her of their talk about how difficult piecing together memories can be. Overwhelmed, she asked for time alone. Li Qian left, instructing Tanli to watch over her.
Alone, Li Mingyue grappled with a profound internal conflict: if Yunsi's claims were true, she questioned her brother's betrayal and how she could possibly face either Yunsi or Li Qian. Seeking clarity, she questioned Tanli, who confirmed that she and Yunsi were inseparable in Xiyue and that she already knew how to shoot three arrows when they first met. Armed with this proof, Li Mingyue attempted to use her Zhuxin Bell to hypnotize herself.
But as she began, she recalled Li Qian's words: that feelings born from hypnosis can still be real and that the origin of love is less important than the love itself. Overwhelmed by this realization, she collapsed in heartbroken tears.
Episode 15 Recap
Yunsi arrived at the princely residence, demanding to see Li Mingyue, but Li Qian refused his entry. Yunsi accused Li Qian of exploiting a vulnerable situation to steal another man's beloved, asserting that if Li Mingyue had not forgotten their shared past, she would never have agreed to marry him. Li Qian firmly stated that Mingyue had chosen to return and was now his princess consort, making it a family matter he would handle.
Despite his outward confidence, Li Qian harbored doubts about Mingyue's feelings for him. Undeterred, Yunsi vowed to find a way for Mingyue to fully remember him before departing. Later, Li Mingyue was found weeping in her room. Li Qian stood anxiously outside, but ultimately walked away without entering. The following day, Li Qian summoned Kaierbi and questioned him about the hypnosis.
Kaierbi attempted to feign ignorance, but Li Qian, outlining the severe implications for Mingyue, himself, and the relationship between Xiyue and Beixuan, pressed him for the truth. Kaierbi admitted to erasing Mingyue's memories of Yunsi, claiming it was for the marriage alliance and to spare her pain. Li Qian furiously condemned Kaierbi's actions, stating that he had caused Mingyue immense harm.
When Kaierbi suggested re-hypnotizing her to forget Yunsi completely, Li Qian adamantly refused, threatening to sever ties between their kingdoms if he harmed Mingyue again. Li Qian explained his only desire was for Mingyue's happiness. He pledged to help her recover her memories, even if it meant she chose to return to Xiyue, vowing to respect her decision and bear all responsibility.
To seal his promise, Li Qian cut his palm, swearing that if he violated his vow, he would die by the sword. Reassured, Kaierbi produced a secret book containing a musical score that could awaken memories lost to hypnosis, but cautioned that the piece was incredibly difficult to play. Li Qian searched Xing'an and located the reclusive musician Jilan, known as Lan. He set out for her remote dwelling with Sikong Zhen and Li Mingyue.
Along the way, they discovered Yunsi following them and Li Qian permitted him to join. The group arrived at Lan's secluded home, where an aloof Lan stood beside a cage holding a dead bird, which she dismissively explained was easier than feeding it. Li Qian formally requested Lan's help. However, Lan, without glancing at the score, declared she could not play it.
Li Qian then dismissed the others to speak privately with Lan, offering to fulfill any condition she might have. When Li Qian asserted that Mingyue's happiness was more important than his own life, Lan scoffed. To test his sincerity, she offered him a cup of what she claimed was poisonous wine. Without hesitation, Li Qian drank it. Witnessing his resolve, Lan mused that such profound devotion could appear ruthless, and Li Qian was precisely such a person.
When Li Qian and Lan emerged, Mingyue learned he had consumed what she believed was poison and, her eyes red with distress, desperately pleaded with Lan for an antidote. Lan revealed it was merely a fine aged wine, and Mingyue felt a wave of immense relief. Lan then dismissed everyone else, keeping only Mingyue.
Observing Li Qian and Mingyue's tender farewell, Yunsi burned with jealousy and taunted Li Qian, warning him not to obstruct Mingyue's return to Xiyue once her memories were restored. Li Qian remained silent as Sikong Zhen comforted him, asserting that he could win against Yunsi. Lan began to play the melody, but after only a few notes, Mingyue clutched her head, overwhelmed by pain. Lan explained that since Mingyue was not musically trained, the powerful stimulus only caused confusion.
She decided to teach Mingyue music gradually, teasingly remarking on her "wooden brain." Back at the residence, Li Qian was playing chess with Sikong Zhen, his mind clearly elsewhere. Song Jinyu arrived, playfully mocking Li Qian for being troubled by love. He and Sikong Zhen then used reverse psychology, suggesting they visit Mingyue at the music house since Li Qian seemed not to care. Exasperated, Li Qian drove them away.
No sooner had they left than he ordered Fifth Cheng to send more clothes to Mingyue, dispatch a Xiyue chef to cook for Lan, and remain there himself to provide timely reports. Song Jinyu later brought Kangle what he thought was good news about Mingyue's treatment. However, Kangle was downcast, admitting that Mingyue's situation made her fear that she, too, might one day lose her memories.
To cheer her up, Song Jinyu joked that he would be terrified to forget all the "little beauties" he knew from various brothels. Amused, Kangle retorted that perhaps Kaierbi should indeed cleanse "his" mind of those frivolous encounters, her spirits finally lifting. At the music house, Lan observed that Mingyue seemed reluctant to recover her memories. Mingyue vehemently denied this, scoffing at Lan for being drunk all day.
Lan retorted that forgetting is a blessing, revealing her own painful past of being forcibly separated from a loved one on that very day of the year. Mingyue suggested she seek him out, but Lan dismissed this as naive. In response, Mingyue declared that if she truly loved someone, she would overcome any obstacle to be with them, unlike Lan, who simply got drunk. Lan challenged her, questioning why she feared remembering her own past if she was so fearless. Provoked, Mingyue vowed to master the music score in a few days to prove she was not one to retreat.
Episode 16 Recap
Having learned to heal with music, Li Mingyue began the final stage of her treatment. Lan, her senior, played a complete melody, guiding Li Mingyue to peacefully sort through the complex memories in her mind. Lan explained that the music would lead her deep into her past, and once everything became clear, the process would be complete. As the music played, Li Mingyue’s fragmented memories returned vividly.
She recalled making pastries for Yunsi for his birthday, a first for her, and his delight in them. She remembered the two of them working together to help their beloved horse, Feng, with Yunsi proclaiming that Feng would become the world's most powerful warhorse, and Li Mingyue asserting that Yunsi was already the most powerful warrior. She vividly remembered Yunsi teaching her archery, telling her she was his target, and explaining the invincible power of "shooting three arrows."
Later, in Yuechu Valley, Yunsi presented her with a pair of scimitars he crafted, explaining that in Xiyue, exchanging such blades signified eternal unity. He, Pugu Yunsi, swore to the sky to never let her down, a vow Li Mingyue echoed. With all these memories restored, Lan affirmed that Li Mingyue had remembered everything. Li Mingyue acknowledged the past felt real but questioned if those feelings could fade over time.
Lan suggested that while some emotions might, others leave indelible marks. Li Mingyue described feeling torn, as if split in half, one part urging her to return to her past, the other to stay in her present. Lan advised Li Mingyue to focus on the person currently with her, as that person is the one truly in her heart. She told Li Mingyue to write down the name of the person she thought of.
Li Mingyue tried to write a name with tea on the table, but after drawing a single stroke, she quickly wiped it away, repeating the action before admitting to Lan that her heart was in a mess. Meanwhile, Huixin’s maid reported seeing a maid from Prince Zi’s household in the market, burdened with pastries. She revealed that Li Mingyue had been absent from the mansion for several days, supposedly staying at a music house.
The maid speculated that Li Mingyue might be learning "dark magic" to use upon her return. Hearing this, Huixin decided to go to the music house herself. At the music house, Yunsi arrived with his group, including Li Qian. Lan acknowledged their presence, stating she would return Li Mingyue as she was. Yunsi directly asked if Aimaila (Li Mingyue) had truly restored her memories. Lan confirmed it, advising them to take Li Mingyue back and care for her.
Yunsi immediately asserted that since Li Mingyue’s memories were restored, she should return to Xiyue with him. However, Li Mingyue, looking at Li Qian, stated that she was still the Queen of Beixuan and her priority was to return to the mansion, deferring all other discussions. She then quickly left with her maid, Rui. Upon their return to the mansion, Kaierbi was waiting. Li Mingyue angrily confronted him, accusing him of hypnotizing her.
Yunsi, who had followed, tried to pull her away, insisting she return to Xiyue. Li Qian intervened, pushing Yunsi aside and promising Mingyue that no one would ever force her again. Kaierbi apologized profusely for his actions. Li Qian explained that his brother had hypnotized her because the diplomatic marriage was already set, and they thought forgetting her past would lessen her pain.
Kaierbi then declared that Mingyue's decision to stay or leave was entirely her own and no one could compel her. Both Yunsi and Li Qian agreed to respect her choice, and Li Mingyue requested time to think. Li Mingyue then returned to her chambers, which were adorned with a profusion of colorful flowers, romantic candlelight, and fresh fruits. Kangle, Li Qian’s sister, joyfully greeted Li Mingyue, revealing that Li Qian had prepared all the decorations.
They settled down to drink, deciding to get thoroughly drunk. Li Mingyue confided in Kangle that her memories with Yunsi now felt like a dream, while what she once believed to be false now seemed real. Kangle, more pragmatic, dismissed such sentiments, emphasizing that what truly mattered was who Li Mingyue cared for now—who made her smile, who she wished to ride horses with, and whose well-being she genuinely worried about, directly implying Li Qian.
Li Mingyue questioned if her past was truly meaningless, but Kangle insisted that the present was far more significant. Meanwhile, General Pang suggested to Li Xun that since the Emperor was considering naming a crown prince, they needed a strategy. Pang pointed out that Prince Zi (Li Qian), with the support of Xiyue, had become a powerful obstacle that needed to be eliminated. Li Xun expressed reluctance to harm his own flesh and blood.
However, Pang then subtly suggested that since the Emperor had entrusted Li Qian with suppressing a rebellion, Li Xun, as his brother, could secretly hinder his efforts. Pang also added that Queen Zi (Li Mingyue), known for frequenting crowded city areas, could inadvertently get hurt in a brawl if she was not accompanied by Prince Zi. This time, Li Xun was swayed and a murderous intent formed in his mind.
Li Mingyue wrote two letters and instructed her maid, Tanli, to deliver them to Li Qian and Yunsi before sunset, calling it her "lifelong event." Elsewhere, Diwu Cheng apprehended a rebel and discovered a secret letter indicating a planned resurgence at Bodaoling. Li Qian, recognizing the urgency, immediately ordered his horse and an army to head there. Just as Li Qian was about to depart, Tanli arrived with Li Mingyue’s letter.
Urged by Diwu Cheng to prioritize the military emergency, Li Qian left for Bodaoling without opening it. Yunsi received his letter from Li Mingyue. It contained a terse message: "The past is gone; think of me no more." However, after Tanli shared that Li Mingyue had inquired about Zhaoyue Building being the liveliest place during the lantern festival and that Li Qian had left the mansion, Yunsi declared that he was not one to give up easily.
That evening, at the lantern festival, Li Mingyue waited at the Zhaoyue Building. She waited well into the night, but Li Qian never arrived. A sympathetic vendor, seeing her alone, gave her a lantern. As she dejectedly walked back to the mansion, assassins attacked. Yunsi, who had been following her, appeared and engaged the attackers, telling her that Li Qian would not come. In the ensuing fight, Yunsi sustained severe injuries while defending her.
Li Mingyue became frantic upon seeing Yunsi’s blood. He weakly asked why she hadn't chosen him. Li Mingyue repeatedly apologized as Yunsi insisted she return to Xiyue with him. Meanwhile, Li Qian, severely wounded from an ambush at Bodaoling, returned to his mansion. He stopped Queyan from calling a doctor or informing the Queen, emphasizing the need for secrecy. Li Qian then opened Li Mingyue’s blood-stained letter, which read: "My heart is a stone, do not wait for my return.
The bright moon is not seen, do not miss me." Enraged and heartbroken, Li Qian demanded to know the Queen’s whereabouts. Upon hearing that she and Yunsi had both left and she had not yet returned, Li Qian was overcome with grief. After ensuring a doctor was attending to Yunsi, Li Mingyue finally returned to her chambers. She sat by the lamplight, looking at the scimitar in her hand. She resolved that no matter whom she ultimately chose, she would not abandon Yunsi, who had shared so many life-and-death moments with her over the years.
Episode 17 Recap
Li Mingyue arrived at Li Qian’s room and remarked that he must have been very busy the day before. Li Qian, attempting to conceal that he had been ambushed by rebels, simply replied that he had rested early. Misunderstanding his coldness, Li Mingyue questioned if he had read her letter. Li Qian, having seen Yunsi leave the previous night and mistakenly believing Li Mingyue had gone to meet him, claimed he had.
Upon learning she only returned to the manor at midnight, he sarcastically noted that Yunsi must have truly cared for her to keep her out so late. Hurt by his words, Li Mingyue revealed that the small scimitar she always carried—a gift from Yunsi—was a reminder of someone who had risked his life to protect her.
She then informed Li Qian that she intended to return to Xiyue with her second brother and Yunsi, adding that she presumed he would be pleased with this decision. Feeling misunderstood, Li Mingyue directly asked Li Qian if the dignified King Zi of Beixuan would easily break a promise. Li Qian, believing she was referring to his pledge to respect her choices, confirmed he would not.
He stated that Beixuan was a chaotic place and it was for the best that she leave soon. Li Mingyue interpreted this as him wishing for her swift departure. Bitterly, she said she could finally leave a place where no one would miss her.
Later, when asked why he didn't try to stop her, Li Qian explained that since she had made up her mind, trying to keep her would only cause her more annoyance, and he had already promised to respect her decision. Meanwhile, upon learning of the situation, Li Xun actively spread rumors that King Zi's consort was secretly involved with the Xiyue minister, causing widespread gossip throughout Xing'an city.
Li Xun expressed his anticipation of the unfolding drama, gloating that Li Qian had not only failed to quell the rebellion effectively but was now unable to even manage his own household affairs. Still wrestling with her doubts, Li Mingyue confronted Yunsi, questioning why Li Qian would eat her pastries, help restore her memories, and risk his life to remove a poisoned arrow if he didn't care for her.
Yunsi countered that Li Qian’s actions were purely political—saving her life to maintain diplomatic relations and helping her recover her memory to preserve his own reputation. He pressed Li Mingyue to understand that he was the only one who truly cared for her, urging her to forget everything about Beixuan and remember their vow, "I swear to the moon that I will never wrong you."
Though Li Mingyue initially tried to make excuses for Li Qian, suggesting he was busy with state affairs, Yunsi’s arguments about Li Qian’s failure to ever confess his feelings or even ask her to stay ultimately broke her resolve. Convinced that Li Qian did not love her, Li Mingyue finally agreed to return to Xiyue with Yunsi. As Li Mingyue prepared to depart, she encountered Li Qian.
She expressed concern about how he would explain her departure to the Emperor, but Li Qian assured her he would handle it and that their personal matters would not affect relations between Xiyue and Beixuan. Before he left, Li Mingyue made one last attempt, asking if he had anything else to say to her. Li Qian paused, then replied that he had nothing more to say and turned away. With snow beginning to fall, a distraught Li Mingyue began packing.
Tanli tried to persuade her to reconsider, but Li Mingyue insisted on leaving, refusing to take any items related to Li Qian. She even broke a rouge box, a wedding gift from the Emperor, in half, declaring that she would leave Beixuan just as she had arrived. The next day, Kangle and Song Jinyu came to bid her farewell. Kangle, insisting that Li Qian was truly sad to see her go, urged her not to leave.
Li Mingyue explained that since Li Qian never asked her to stay, remaining would only make her seem self-important. As Yunsi hurried her to the carriage, Song Jinyu secretly handed Li Mingyue a kit from Sikong Zhen, advising her that it contained a solution for any difficulties she might encounter on her journey. Kangle tearfully asked Li Mingyue to return if she ever had regrets.
Later, Li Qian stood alone, drinking wine as snow fell, lamenting his inability to protect those he cared for despite his high position. Sikong Zhen approached, remarking that Li Qian himself was the one who had let Li Mingyue go and that she was the more pitiful one, destined to spend her life with someone she didn't love. Li Qian disagreed, insisting that she had chosen Yunsi.
He produced her blood-stained letter, which he had interpreted as: "My heart is like stone. Do not wait for my return. The moon is gone. Do not miss me." Sikong Zhen, however, offered an alternative interpretation: "My heart is like yours. Let's meet at the appointed time. See you there. Do not forget."
He explained that Li Qian, having seen Tanli drop a different letter meant for Yunsi, had already concluded Li Mingyue would reject him, causing him to only read rejection in her words. Stunned, Li Qian questioned if he had truly misunderstood. Sikong Zhen pressed him, asking if Mingyue wasn't more important than the lost memories he had worked so hard to recover. Realizing his grave error, Li Qian resolved to find her.
Sikong Zhen then revealed the secret of the kit: he had instructed Mingyue, via Song Jinyu, to head to a pavilion west of the city to take shelter from the snow if she ran into trouble. Armed with this crucial information, Li Qian immediately mounted his horse and rode off in pursuit.
Episode 18 Recap
Following Li Mingyue’s departure, she and her entourage sought shelter from the snow in a western pavilion. While Yunsi and Tanli went to retrieve warm clothes for her, Mingyue pondered why Sikong Zhen had given her the mysterious kit. Looking out at the falling snow, her thoughts were with Xing'an city and Li Qian. Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves broke the silence. She turned around anxiously and saw the man she deeply yearned for dismounting his horse.
She hesitated for a moment before he quickly approached her. The two lovers gazed at each other, and Li Qian immediately embraced Li Mingyue, expressing relief that he had caught up with her. Li Qian urged Li Mingyue to stay for him, but a storm of emotions surged within her, quickly turning into resentment. She tearfully confronted him, questioning why he had failed to meet her, leaving her to wait alone for several hours and be mocked by others.
She accused him of constantly pushing her away, calling her a "chess piece" while blaming her for hypnotizing him, and yet pretending to care. Li Qian interrupted her, apologizing profusely. He admitted that it was all his fault, as he didn't know how to love her and had thus pretended to be indifferent and unconcerned. Li Mingyue vehemently declared it was indeed his fault.
She emphasized that she had chosen him that night, but he hadn't come, abandoning her despite claiming to respect her choice. Upon hearing that Li Mingyue had truly chosen him, Li Qian held her tightly. He explained the misunderstanding, revealing that he had thought her letter was a farewell message, which was why he hadn't shown up.
He recounted his desperate journey to find her, which made him finally understand the profound pain of loss and the true feeling of love. Overwhelmed by emotion, they kissed. Yunsi and Tanli arrived outside the pavilion and unexpectedly witnessed the embrace. Tanli smiled, but Yunsi angrily threw down his water bottle, grabbed his horse, and rode away, refusing to admit defeat.
Meanwhile, a servant reported to Qiao Huixin that rumors were swirling throughout Xing'an city about Princess Consort Zi having an illicit affair with the minister from Xiyue. Deducing that Li Qian must be deeply distressed, Huixin resolved to visit him to share his burden. As Qiao Huixin's carriage arrived outside the King's mansion, she saw Li Qian and Li Mingyue dismount from their horses and share a passionate kiss right at the entrance.
Seeing this, Huixin immediately lowered her carriage curtain and chose not to enter. Later, Li Xun and Qiao Huixin went to the palace to visit the Emperor and Consort Shu. The Emperor was preoccupied with concerns over King Zi's recent failure in suppressing a rebel attack. When Huixin spoke in Li Qian's defense, the Emperor was reminded of her previous engagement to him and expressed his intent to bestow her upon King Zi.
Consort Shu interjected, suggesting that the King's wishes should be considered first. The Emperor then summoned Li Qian, questioning him about the circulating rumors. After Li Qian's explanation, the Emperor remained uneasy and pressed his intention to marry Qiao Huixin to him, but Li Qian adamantly stated that he could not comply. Witnessing Li Qian's resolute refusal, Qiao Huixin felt a sharp pain, as if she had been stabbed.
The Emperor, slightly displeased, questioned what would happen if he insisted on bestowing the marriage. At this point, Li Xun intervened, arguing that the timing of such a marriage was improper. He explained that taking a new consort less than a year after a diplomatic marriage would inevitably upset Xiyue and lead them to believe Beixuan was slighting their princess. Li Qian supported this argument, adding that Li Mingyue had recently shown great improvement.
The Emperor found their reasoning sound and did not press the matter further. Walking alone through the palace pathways, Qiao Huixin was enveloped by the falling snow, her figure etched with desolation. Li Xun caught up to her. Huixin continued to defend Li Qian, but Li Xun sternly rebuked her, telling her to stop deceiving herself. He asserted that Li Qian never appreciated her kindness and that marrying him would only bring unhappiness.
Tears streamed down Huixin's face; she had always believed there was no genuine affection between Li Qian and Li Mingyue, but seeing their tender moments that day made her realize the depth of her own unwillingness to accept it. Li Xun comforted her, reminding her that she was still the eldest daughter of the Qiao family and that he would help her exact revenge on those who had wronged her.
Li Qian instructed Queyan not to inform the Princess Consort about his injury. After Queyan left, Li Mingyue approached Li Qian, inquiring about his palace visit and expressing jealousy that Qiao Huixin had also been there. Li Qian chuckled and embraced her, assuring her that no one else could ever catch his eye. Seeing his affectionate demeanor, Mingyue took the initiative and kissed him.
Li Qian then earnestly confessed that when he didn't see her, he kept his longing deep within his heart, and when he sought her out, it was because the longing had become too overwhelming to contain. His heartfelt confession deeply moved Mingyue, who grasped his shoulders, declaring that to alleviate his longing, she would stay by his side at all times.
Li Qian recoiled slightly in pain from her touch, then claimed he had official business and quickly retreated to his study. Mingyue felt quite frustrated, as Li Qian had not slept in her room for two days. She worried that he was bothered by her past with Yunsi, prompting Kangle to suggest that Song Jinyu could help her "test" Li Qian. Meanwhile, Li Qian, noticing Mingyue's recent distance, sought advice from his friends.
Song Jinyu advised him to offer her the very best things, while Sikong Zhen suggested sharing something he had never shared with anyone else. To demonstrate, Sikong Zhen took Li Qian's hand and placed it over his own heart, startling Li Qian.
Sikong Zhen explained that most women seek peace of mind, and Li Qian needed to make Mingyue feel irreplaceable by sharing an unforgettable place, precious memories, or a secret known only to him, thus proving she was different from everyone else in his heart.
Episode 19 Recap
Following the recent tensions, Song Jinyu advises Li Qian that Li Mingyue's unhappiness stems from their unconsummated marriage, which can make a woman feel unattractive. He boasts of being the foremost expert on women in Xing'an, but Li Qian counters by asking why he has failed to win over Kangle. Song Jinyu dismisses the question, claiming Kangle is not a real woman.
Li Qian considers that their hundredth day of marriage is a memorable occasion and an opportunity to clear the air. Meanwhile, a troubled Qiao Huixin gazes at the lock of hair she once shared with Li Qian. Her father, Qiao Xuan, tells her that King Zi's rejection of their marriage was a blessing in disguise.
He reminds her that she is different from ordinary women who indulge in romance; as the last of their line, she carries the legacy of the Qiao family, a noble house from the former dynasty that once held a status equal to royalty. He laments their fall from grace, reduced to serving the Li family, whom he dismisses as dogs. Qiao Xuan reveals his ambition to restore their family's former glory and asks for Huixin's help.
She expresses her reluctance, feeling unequipped for such a heavy burden. He insists that with her desired marriage out of reach, she should seek another path rather than wait indefinitely, but Huixin asks him not to force her. Tanli tells Li Mingyue that she overheard Song Jinyu say Li Qian was studying "Yin and Yang," a euphemism for the art of lovemaking.
Excitedly believing Li Qian is preparing a surprise for their consummation, Li Mingyue bathes multiple times and meticulously applies makeup. She anxiously asks Tanli to check her breath and appearance. As Tanli leans in to inspect her face, Li Qian enters. Li Mingyue hastily claims Tanli was helping her with a pimple. Expecting a kiss, she closes her eyes as Li Qian approaches, but he simply coughs and leads her outside.
Confused by the deserted location, she wonders if he intends to be intimate in such a strange place, but he reassures her. Li Qian brings her to the Zhaoyue Building. Li Mingyue playfully confronts him about studying "Yin and Yang," calling him a "playboy." He clarifies that was never his intention and reveals his true surprise.
Explaining he has yet to give her a proper gift since their marriage, he signals for countless sky lanterns to be released, filling the night sky like a river of stars. Overjoyed, Li Mingyue playfully punches his shoulder, accidentally hitting his injury. He confesses he was wounded while fighting rebels and hid it to avoid worrying her, not realizing their lack of intimacy was upsetting her. Li Mingyue now understands the real reason he kept his distance.
She admits she feared being taken for granted if won over too easily, but he assures her their situation is different. When she asks what she truly means to him, Li Qian confesses that while most things in life fade, only the stars and her remain eternally bright. He declares she is not just like a star but is the "moon" at his side, whose light outshines all the stars and illuminates his heart.
Deeply touched, Li Mingyue thanks him for bringing her back, and they share a tender kiss under the lantern-lit sky. Elsewhere, Li Mingyue finds Lan about to destroy her guqin. She stops her, noting the instrument’s affectionate tone, and suggests Lan's own heart is filled with love. When asked about the man who wrote her love poems, Lan laments the transient nature of love.
Li Mingyue encourages her to fearlessly pursue her beloved, no matter the distance, so she will have no regrets. Later, Song Jinyu again teases Li Qian, claiming Li Mingyue doesn't see him as a true husband because they still haven't consummated their marriage. Annoyed, Li Qian confronts Song Jinyu for spreading the "Yin and Yang" rumor, which made him look lecherous. Though he publicly dismisses the teasing, he is privately bothered and finds himself fantasizing about Li Mingyue.
When Li Mingyue enters his room, she startles him out of his reverie. He tells her to knock next time, and she teases him about his flushed face, accusing him of secretly reading inappropriate books. Noting his shoulder injury, she offers to change his bandages. As he removes his outer coat, she peeks, becomes flustered, and stumbles backward. Li Qian catches her, pulling her into an embrace. They share a passionate kiss and fall into the bed curtains.
A woman in pink addresses Qiao Xuan as "Master," but he silences her, stating the time for their plan is not yet right, as Li Xun's repeated failures have made Li Qian suspicious. He orders her and his steward, Qiao Zheng, to eliminate everyone who knows his true identity, sparing only her. Meanwhile, Li Qian and Diwu Cheng are staking out a pharmacy. Diwu Cheng reports that a female rebel they encountered at the Battle of Bodaoling frequents this location.
They watch as the woman arrives and passes a note to Qiao Zheng. As they attempt to leave, Li Qian and Diwu Cheng intercept them. Qiao Zheng tries to swallow the note but is stopped. Li Qian has both of them taken to the dungeon for interrogation. That stormy night, Li Qian confronts Qiao Xuan at his manor. Dropping all pretense, he presents Qiao Zheng's confession and accuses him of treason. Realizing he's exposed, Qiao Xuan attacks.
During their duel, he reveals his true identity as the sole heir of the former Great Zhou royal family, harboring a deep-seated hatred for the Li family. After a fierce battle, Li Qian presses him about Li Xun's involvement in the assassination attempts on Li Mingyue and asks if he fears implicating his daughter. At the mention of Huixin, Qiao Xuan ceases fighting and begs Li Qian to spare her in exchange for his life.
Li Qian agrees and destroys the confession, but in a shocking turn, Qiao Xuan seizes Li Qian’s blade and fatally stabs himself. Qiao Huixin steps outside just in time to see her father die at Li Qian's feet. Distraught, she accuses Li Qian of murder. He coldly replies that her father chose his own path. Devastated, Huixin cries that since he already humiliated her by rejecting their marriage, he might as well kill her too.
Li Qian tells her that her father's last wish was for her to live. In that moment, Huixin has a chilling realization: Li Qian's refusal to marry her was not due to political differences, but because he knew this day would come. Bitterly, she remarks that as an orphan, she is now worthless to him. Declaring that the innocent Qiao Huixin is dead, she vows to live on fueled by hatred, promising to one day repay the pain he has caused her a hundredfold.
Episode 20 Recap
Li Qian reported to the Emperor that after the Bodaoling battle, the rebels' leader was finally arrested. The Emperor questioned who the rebel was, and Li Qian revealed it was Qiao Zheng, the steward of Mister Qiao's household. The Emperor then asked if Mister Qiao was involved. Li Qian hesitated before stating that Mister Qiao was not aware of it.
The Emperor wondered why Mister Qiao had not come to the palace to plead guilty given such a significant event at his home. Li Qian explained that when he went to the Qiao residence to capture the rebels the previous day, Mister Qiao died on the spot under a rebel's sword. Hearing this, the Emperor sighed and ordered Li Qian to quickly capture the rest of the rebels and get to the bottom of the matter.
Huixin had been kneeling for a day and a night at her father's memorial tablet. Li Xun watched her, deeply pained and worried. He urged her to hold on, informing her that the Emperor had decreed not to pursue any crime of dereliction on Mister Qiao's part. Hearing the word "father," Huixin seemed to awaken, remembering the pillow she was embroidering for her father's bad back. She frantically resumed stitching, pricking her finger in the process.
Li Xun pulled the pillow away, urging her to face the reality that Mister Qiao was truly gone, and that he had been killed by Li Qian. Upon hearing Li Qian's name, Huixin finally became lucid, stating that he was the one who made her realize that the world was not worth it, and love was even more absurd.
Li Xun looked at her heartbroken, tightly holding her hand, and suggested that while loving someone is a motivation to live, hatred could be the same. Huixin then cried out, vowing to make Li Qian pay with his blood. Seeing Huixin's torment and fury, Li Xun felt both pain and pity. He embraced her, telling her to cry as much as she needed, as the more tears she shed, the less pain she would feel in her heart.
Huixin finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Unexpectedly, after regaining her memory, Li Mingyue had gained a new talent: playing the zither. As she finished a piece, she mused aloud to Tanli that she needed to take action to ensure Li Qian did not remain chaste any longer. Suddenly, a group of rebels attacked. Li Mingyue recognized them as the bandits she had seen on Baiyun Mountain. The rebels attempted to seize Li Mingyue, demanding Li Qian reveal himself and die.
Declaring herself Princess Zi, Li Mingyue bravely faced them, albeit with an internal panic about dying before consummating her marriage with Li Qian. Just then, Li Qian appeared and, with a swift move, killed the rebel holding Li Mingyue hostage. He then single-handedly defeated the remaining rebels. Li Mingyue later remarked that her cooperation was also essential in their defeat.
Later, while bathing, Li Mingyue confided in Tanli, marveling at how Li Qian, despite being at the palace for an audience with the Emperor, had arrived just in time to save her, describing it as a special connection between a husband and wife. She then wondered aloud if Li Qian had fallen in love with her a long time ago and was merely pretending otherwise. Just then, Li Qian appeared behind her and softly asked, "Is that so?"
Startled, Li Mingyue quickly covered herself. Li Qian approached and touched her forehead. Li Mingyue, expecting a kiss, became hopeful. However, Li Qian merely wiped a minor injury from her forehead, draped a robe over her, and then asked if she had been scared. Li Qian escorted Li Mingyue to her room and prepared to leave. However, Li Mingyue pulled him back, suggesting they sleep together from then on, since they were already husband and wife.
Li Qian agreed, and they both lay on the bed, wide awake and lost in their own thoughts. Li Qian recalled Song Jinyu's earlier words, concluding that her invitation to sleep together must signify her consent to consummate their marriage. Meanwhile, Li Mingyue internally fretted, wondering why Li Qian was still pretending to be a gentleman and if he was waiting for her to take the initiative.
Both, independently deciding that the time and circumstances were right, simultaneously sat up, only to comically bump their heads together. They looked at each other, desire in their eyes. Li Qian moved to kiss Li Mingyue, who then pressed herself over him. He gently reversed their positions, pulling her close. Though both were inexperienced, they found their way, becoming true husband and wife that night. The next morning, they awoke, their affection for each other evident.
Li Qian confessed a secret to Li Mingyue: he had a strange problem of sleepwalking, often doing peculiar things in his sleep. Far from being upset, Li Mingyue found it amusing and charming. Li Qian then asked Li Mingyue to confess hers, but she claimed to have none. She then playfully offered to reveal details of her past interactions with Yunsi. Li Qian quickly refused, telling her not to even think about it.
They continued to banter, with Li Qian teasing that his sleepwalking must be due to excessively worrying about her. Li Mingyue countered that since she had cured his amnesia, mysophobia, and avoidance of women, she naturally had to add some other "problems" to be his "heart disease for a lifetime," refusing to let him heal. Li Qian responded that the "disease" was deep inside him, and he would not want to be healed even if he died from it.
He then leaned in and kissed her again. Li Mingyue decided to personally craft a love token for herself and Li Qian, fashioning two small figures from mud. Kangle, observing Li Mingyue's unusually cheerful demeanor, teased her about the previous night. Meanwhile, Song Jinyu was also gossiping with Li Qian.
After Li Qian mentioned that Li Mingyue had suffered a minor injury—prompting Fifth Cheng to eagerly ask if enough healing medicine had been provided, much to Song Jinyu's amusement—Li Qian admitted he was wondering what to give Mingyue as a love token. Song Jinyu offered his "experience", advising that the gift itself was not as important as their nightly passion. That evening, Li Qian came to Li Mingyue's room, and she immediately embraced him.
Li Qian presented Li Mingyue with a ruby hairpin, revealing it was his mother's relic and his most precious possession, for which he had commissioned a famous artisan to create a unique setting. Li Mingyue was captivated by its beauty but then felt embarrassed, realizing her own gift was merely mud figures. She told Li Qian she hadn't prepared her gift yet. However, Li Qian, sensing her excitement, began searching the room until he found the two mud figures.
Despite her attempts to retrieve them, Li Qian held them, noting their resemblance to them both. He then placed his mud figure in Li Mingyue's hand, signifying that from that moment on, they would carry each other with them and never be apart. As it was getting late, they once again spent an intimate night together. The next morning, Li Qian awoke with a sore arm. He tried to rouse Li Mingyue, but she continued to sleep in past noon.
He resorted to gently dragging her off the bed, insisting she join him for morning martial arts practice. Li Mingyue refused, instead reaching into her bedside cabinet for a snack. Li Qian then discovered that the bedside cabinet was completely stuffed with food. He commented on the room's disarray after just one night and threatened to withhold her meals if she didn't clean it, to which she nonchalantly replied that she wouldn't eat then.
Episode 21 Recap
After Li Mingyue's attempts to tidy the room from the previous night's mess, she offered Li Qian a sincere apology, promising to be neater. Li Qian, however, seemed preoccupied and tossed her several books to read. His attention shifted when he discovered his beloved folding fan, which always sat on his desk, was missing. Growing anxious, he questioned its whereabouts, and Li Mingyue recalled using it to fan the flames while firing clay figures in the kitchen.
Li Qian rushed to the kitchen and found the fan, but it was heavily stained and bent out of shape. He was heartbroken, lamenting that it was an irreplaceable final work from the master Wu Tianlin. When Li Mingyue cautiously suggested finding someone to repair or copy it, Li Qian retorted that explaining its value to her was like playing a lute to a cow.
Annoyed, Li Mingyue snapped back, questioning why he was so particular about a fan when he had been so dismissive of her own pleasures. She challenged whether his literary tastes were inherently nobler than her simple joys of eating and drinking, accusing him of constant arrogance and self-centeredness. As her anger flared, she began deliberately messing up the room again.
Recognizing the impasse, Li Qian stated he had something important to discuss and, despite her protests, gently lifted her onto a chair to talk. Li Qian explained that their vastly different backgrounds and habits naturally created difficulties, but stressed that any successful marriage requires mutual effort and understanding. Li Mingyue disagreed, proposing that direct rules were more effective than vague understanding. She suggested a "shift-based system" where they would take turns being the head of the household.
During one's shift, the other would have to obey their rules or face punishment. Li Qian found the system unheard of, but when Li Mingyue challenged him to offer a better alternative, he reluctantly agreed to try. Before he could object to any specifics, Li Mingyue seized his hand and pressed his fingerprint onto the written agreement, sealing the deal. On the first day, Li Qian took charge.
He had Li Mingyue awakened at dawn by a rooster and confiscated her hidden stash of dried fruit preserves. He declared that early rising brought good fortune and presented her with an article listing "ominous" habits to avoid, such as eating in bed, sighing without cause, and sleeping "like a corpse"—all of which were her favorite pastimes. He ordered her to clean the bedroom thoroughly.
Frustrated by the endless rules, Li Mingyue sighed, and when reprimanded, she defiantly spat on the floor. As punishment, Li Qian ordered her to memorize Li Bai's poem "Invitation to Wine." Mistaking it for a lesson on drinking, she scoffed, but Li Qian corrected her, chastising her for the lack of literary knowledge that led to her ruining his fan.
Li Mingyue found the poem illogical and refused to learn it, prompting an exasperated Li Qian to declare she would get no breakfast until she recited it perfectly. That evening, Li Mingyue recited the poem haphazardly, mixing up lines into nonsense. Still fuming, she refused to let Li Qian into bed, claiming her limbs were too sore to move and suggesting he sleep in the study.
Seeing through her act, Li Qian accused her of deliberately teasing him and playfully rolled over, pinning her beneath him. Li Mingyue warned him that at midnight, she would become the head of the house. She immediately declared her first rule: no early rising. If any sound woke her, he would be severely punished, and he was forbidden from leaving the bed before she did.
In turn, Li Qian warned her not to be lazy, reminding her that when his turn came again, he would show no mercy if she still hadn't memorized the poem. The next morning, Li Mingyue slept in until the sun was high in the sky. Lying in bed beside her, Li Qian found himself unconsciously reciting her jumbled version of "Invitation to Wine."
He realized with alarm that his thoughts were starting to align with hers, even finding pleasure in sleeping in, which he had previously deemed "ominous." He rationalized it as simply upholding their agreement. Li Mingyue then initiated two more "joyous experiences" for him. First, she made him eat in bed, threatening to make him use his bare hands if he refused.
Next, after teasing him with a plain outfit, she revealed he was to wear the uniform of his attendant, Queyan. Despite Queyan's protests, Li Mingyue insisted. Li Qian only conceded when she threatened to borrow even more unsuitable clothes from others. Once dressed, she complimented him, noting his temperament made him look imposing no matter what he wore. Later, she took him to a street stall for wontons.
When Li Qian disdained the common fare, Li Mingyue explained her "city rules": status is just the luck of birth, so one shouldn't look down on the less fortunate. She also taught him her trick for finding the best food stalls—look for the most fresh, dirty bowls, as it indicates high turnover and delicious food. Surprised by her street smarts, Li Qian noted her fluency in marketplace logic despite her inability to memorize poetry.
She retorted that it simply showed their different talents. He joked that he hoped her skills could save him if his luck ever ran out, and she promised they would. That night, as he tried to sleep, she teased that the "head of the house" was not yet satisfied, only letting him rest after he asked if she was pleased.
They reflected on how their "fire and ice" personalities would never have united without their arranged marriage, then embraced and fell asleep. The following day, Li Qian was back in charge. He immediately demanded to know if Li Mingyue had memorized "Invitation to Wine," threatening to cancel all her meals. In response, Li Mingyue adopted an unusually tender demeanor, thanking him for waking her so she could prepare his court attire.
Suspicious of her sudden obedience, Li Qian accused her of trying to flatter her way out of the punishment. As she helped him dress, Li Mingyue began to subtly hypnotize him, commanding him to forget all about the poem. However, her voice failed to take hold. Instead, it triggered a vivid memory in Li Qian's mind of his own mother, her gentle voice reciting "Invitation to Wine" to him when he was a child, completely overriding Mingyue's suggestion.
Episode 22 Recap
Li Mingyue's hypnosis of Li Qian unexpectedly triggered a deeper memory, causing him to recall his mother's appearance and even the scent of her hair. He described seeing his mother, vibrant and well, during a moment where she comforted him about setbacks at Chongwen Hall and taught him Li Bai's 'Wine Poem'. This contradicted the long-held belief, told to him by Hu, that his mother had been bedridden for years with a serious illness before her death.
Now, with a vivid memory of her healthy appearance, Li Qian suspected his mother did not die from illness and felt an urgent need to confront Hu. Li Mingyue, though surprised the hypnosis went beyond her intent to make him forget a trivial matter, offered to assist with the investigation. They decided to enter the palace separately to uncover the truth.
Meanwhile, Li Xun's informant from King Zi's residence reported that Li Qian was beginning to question his mother's death, and that Li Mingyue had aided him in recovering these memories. Li Xun, noting that he wasn't responsible for Zheng's original punishment, instructed his subordinate to relay this information to Zhou, the Emperor's chief eunuch. Soon after, the Emperor summoned Li Mingyue. He first inquired about her studies of Beixuan culture, then directly questioned her visit to the embroidery workshop.
When Li Mingyue attempted to hide her true intentions, claiming she was merely admiring the silks, the Emperor sharply rebuked her. He stated that she hadn't learned proper court etiquette but had grown bold enough to deceive him. He revealed he knew she was there to investigate the cause of Zheng's death, driven by a desire to spare Li Qian from living in uncertainty.
The Emperor then confronted her, pointing out that Li Qian's recovered memories of Zheng were entirely her doing, surprising Li Mingyue with his extensive knowledge of palace affairs. The Emperor then offered to reveal the truth about Zheng's death, but warned that Li Mingyue would have to pay a significant price. When she readily agreed to any terms, he declared that the price was for Li Qian to completely forget his birth mother.
Li Mingyue initially questioned the filial impiety of such an act, but the Emperor argued that if Zheng was unworthy, it would spare Li Qian a lifetime of pain, making ignorance a preferable state. After hesitation, Li Mingyue consented to this demand. The Emperor then recounted that thirteen years prior, Zheng had committed a grave error, causing the death of another person. Out of consideration for Li Qian, the Emperor spared her life, instead confining her to Yongtai Temple.
However, less than a month later, a large fire tragically claimed Zheng's life within the temple. This event deeply traumatized Li Qian, leading to a serious illness, after which he not only suffered complete amnesia but also underwent a significant change in personality. The Emperor concluded that Li Qian's total loss of memory was not a detrimental outcome, and thus, he wished for no further mention of this unfortunate past or of his "unbearable" mother, Zheng.
He instructed Li Mingyue to keep her promise, warning her of severe consequences should she breach her word. Following Qiao Xuan's passing, Qiao Huixin made the difficult decision to sell the family estate and dismiss her servants. When the servants grumbled about their meager severance pay, Qiao Huixin firmly declared that despite her own financial hardship, she would never permit anyone to insult the Qiao family, even if she became utterly destitute.
She then generously offered her own golden hairpins and other jewelry as additional compensation. However, one disrespectful servant mocked her offerings, scoffing at the "woman's item." At that moment, Li Xun arrived. Witnessing the servant's insolence, he swiftly kicked the man, condemning his lack of respect for social hierarchy, and ordered his capture. The display of force quickly intimidated the remaining servants, who scattered and fled after Li Xun's sharp command to take their money and leave.
Li Xun looked at Qiao Huixin with deep concern, questioning why she was inflicting such hardship upon herself. He offered to provide her with more servants and financial assistance, expressing confusion as to why she would sell her home and give away her precious jewelry rather than accept his genuine affection. Qiao Huixin acknowledged his kindness, stating that his help to the fallen Qiao family was a profound favor.
She then led him to her bedroom and began to disrobe, intending to offer herself as repayment. Li Xun immediately stopped her, stating that his desires were far from such a transactional exchange. He declared his wish for her to become his Princess Consort, proclaiming his desire for the entire world to know that she was his wife. Holding her hand, he asked Qiao Huixin if she would marry him.
With tears streaming down her face, Qiao Huixin gazed into his eyes and confirmed that it was her sole wish for the remainder of her life. Overwhelmed with joy and surprise, Li Xun passionately kissed her. Li Qian angrily confronted Hu regarding his mother's death, dismissing Hu's claims of mere hearsay, especially given his mother's high status. He threatened to verify the medical records, if they still existed. Just then, the Emperor arrived.
Li Qian quickly masked his anger and true purpose, bowing respectfully to his father. The Emperor questioned his furious demeanor, to which Li Qian vaguely replied that he was merely addressing palace rumors. The Emperor then chastised Li Qian for neglecting his duties to investigate "old affairs." Li Qian humbly sought forgiveness. The Emperor then spoke of the severe situation in Qingzhou, where continuous rainfall had destroyed farmlands and left the populace in desperate need of grain.
As a form of atonement for his perceived dereliction of duty, the Emperor tasked Li Qian with the crucial responsibility of procuring and delivering grain for disaster relief. Li Qian immediately accepted the imperial decree. Li Mingyue found herself in a moral quandary: whether to obey the Emperor and erase Li Qian's memory of his mother, which she considered disloyal, or defy the imperial command.
After pondering the possibility of liberating someone from their most painful memories, she decided to proceed. She recalled that Kaierbi had once brought a box of Ruilin incense, and her Second Brother had used this very incense to make her forget Yunsi. Concluding that this powerful incense could similarly make Li Qian forget his mother, she dispatched a servant to retrieve it from the warehouse.
That evening, Li Qian returned and earnestly requested Li Mingyue to hypnotize him once more, hoping to uncover more truths about his mother. Li Mingyue complied, lighting the Ruilin Incense, which Li Qian assumed was merely an aid to the hypnotic process due to its unique aroma. As Li Mingyue began the hypnosis, Li Qian delved into his memories.
This time, he recalled a traumatic scene: himself as a young child, tearfully searching for his mother, only to be confronted by Shu Fei who sternly told him, "You have no mother!" Li Qian abruptly awoke, visibly disturbed. He immediately noticed that this memory was starkly different from his previous recollection, and his mother's presence was entirely absent. He confronted Li Mingyue, suspecting she had tampered with his memory.
Seeing her obvious distress, Li Qian's gaze fell upon the burning incense. He quickly deduced its role, swiftly destroyed the Ruilin Incense, and stormed out in a rage. Sikong Zhen arrived to find Li Mingyue distraught. She admitted her mistake in unilaterally hypnotizing Li Qian but defended her actions by questioning if erasing miserable memories was truly harmful.
Sikong Zhen took a cup of tea and added a drop of ink, demonstrating how the ink, like painful memories, becomes inextricably intertwined with the rest of the tea, or other memories. He explained that her actions not only erased Li Qian's painful recollections but also damaged the memories he cherished. Li Mingyue worried that knowing the painful truth would taint his other memories.
However, Sikong Zhen argued that true suffering does not stem from knowing the truth itself, but from the eternal unknowability of it. He further questioned the fairness of erasing a mother's existence just to conceal uncomfortable truths, even if that mother had committed a grave error. Later, Li Mingyue found Li Qian by the pond, feeding fish, deep in thought.
He recounted a childhood memory of almost falling into the pond at six or seven, and how his mother was the first to rescue him, even as other children laughed. He expressed his confusion and pain over her attempts to prevent him from remembering his mother, stating his desire to understand what kind of person his mother was and the time they shared.
Li Mingyue tried to explain that some memories could be painful or alter his perception of his mother. But Li Qian firmly stated that regardless of his mother's character, their blood connection remained. He argued that true suffering came from not knowing those connected by blood. When Li Mingyue finally posed the question, "What if this person your blood is connected to. . . was a sinner who made a big mistake?"
, Li Qian declared that if the crime was proven, he would atone for her, and if she was unjustly accused, he would clear her name. Li Mingyue then revealed that during her investigation in the palace, everyone had remained silent about Zheng's death. Ultimately, she was summoned to the royal study by the Emperor, who ordered her to cease her inquiry and, furthermore, divulged the cause of Zheng's demise.
The price for this knowledge, she explained, was her promise to use hypnosis to make Li Qian completely forget his mother. Learning that the Emperor already knew about hypnosis, Li Qian reassured her that he would bear the full blame if their father sought to punish them. He then pressed her to reveal the truth about his mother's death.
Li Mingyue recounted the Emperor's words: thirteen years ago, Zheng had taken another person's life and was consequently confined to Yongtai Temple, only to tragically perish in a large fire within a month. Li Qian vehemently refused to believe his mother was a murderer. Seeing his resolve, Li Mingyue pledged to investigate the matter with him. She promised to help clear his mother's name if she was innocent and to jointly bear any consequences should the Emperor fault them.
Episode 23 Recap
Li Qian and Li Mingyue arrived at the palace, seeking the list of attendants who had served Li Qian's mother, Zheng. They intended to gather anecdotes for a commemorative piece on her upcoming death anniversary, but were told that all of Zheng’s former servants were no longer in the palace. As they were about to leave, a eunuch secretly slipped them a note directing them to Matron Deng in the Ye Ting, the last surviving servant.
They found Matron Deng being harassed by other palace maids, who were about to kill her. Li Qian and Li Mingyue intervened, rescuing Matron Deng and warning the maids against leaking their presence, threatening them with severe punishment for attempting to execute a palace servant. Li Qian reassured the distraught Matron Deng, promising to arrange for her safe passage out of the palace so she could live her remaining years in peace.
Matron Deng tearfully recounted that Zheng had longed to see Li Qian one last time before her death. She presented a silk handkerchief completely filled with embroidered butterfly flowers, explaining that Zheng had stitched one every time she missed her son while confined at Yongtai Temple. When Li Qian asked why his mother was confined, Matron Deng revealed that during Consort Qi's pregnancy, Zheng had sent her a tonic.
Tragically, Consort Qi was severely poisoned after taking it, dying along with her unborn child. The enraged Emperor stripped Zheng of her title and banished her to Yongtai Temple. Despite Zheng’s claims of innocence, all investigations pointed to her guilt. Shortly after, a large fire erupted at Yongtai Temple, killing Zheng. Matron Deng added that the fire was rumored to have been started by fireworks set off in the palace.
This revelation deeply unsettled Li Qian, triggering a fragmented memory of himself as a young boy holding fireworks amidst a raging fire. Overcome with guilt and convinced that his childhood actions had caused his mother's death, Li Qian visited her grave, lamenting that it was his fault. Meanwhile, Li Xun knelt before the Emperor, successfully requesting to marry Qiao Huixin, despite the Emperor's suspicions about her father.
Consort Shu’s intervention, arguing that the children’s affection shouldn't be sacrificed for their parents' history, helped sway the Emperor. Soon after, Eunuch Zhou reported that King Zi (Li Qian) had been seen paying homage to Zheng at Yongtai Temple. Li Qian arrived to confess, and when the Emperor blamed Li Mingyue for defying his decree, Li Qian took full responsibility, stating a husband is accountable for his wife's actions.
He offered to surrender his military power and titles, which so infuriated the Emperor that he ordered Li Qian to be beaten with a staff. Though pained from the beating, Li Qian was more tormented by the belief that he had caused his mother's death. He secluded himself in his study, refusing to see anyone. That night, Li Xun and Qiao Huixin were married.
In the bridal chamber, Huixin told a hesitant Li Xun that she now harbored only hatred for Li Qian. Declaring that their marriage made them an inseparable force, she initiated their consummation. Li Xun, recognizing their shared pain of unrequited love, embraced their new alliance, vowing that if he could not be her love, he would become her habit. News arrived that disaster relief grain bound for Qingzhou had been robbed by bandits.
Diwu Cheng rushed to inform Li Qian, who was still locked in his room, fearing he would be accused of dereliction of duty. Li Mingyue took charge, deciding to gather replacement grain. However, the wealthy merchants she appealed to provided only a few bags of inferior grain mixed with husks. Later, Sikong Zhen burst into Li Qian's study, rebuking him for torturing both himself and Mingyue, reminding him that a person who finds clarity in pain lives a meaningful life.
Shaken from his despair, Li Qian emerged. With less than five days to gather ten thousand dan of grain, their situation was dire. Kang Le and Song Jinyu's contributions amounted to less than a tenth of what was needed. While personally escorting a few more carts of grain, Li Mingyue was attacked by assassins. Li Qian arrived just in time to save her.
He then reasoned that instead of gathering new grain, it would be more effective to find the original shipment. He instructed Diwu Cheng to disguise himself as a grain trader and make inquiries, planning to lure out the thieves by offering a high price for a large quantity of grain.
Episode 24 Recap
After the Emperor learned of the stolen disaster relief grain in Qingzhou, he summoned Li Qian to court, but Li Qian arrived late, leading to the Emperor’s furious rebuke. Li Qian calmly explained that his delay was due to his efforts in handling the very issue of the relief grain, which was now completely arranged.
He reported that he and Diwu Cheng had intercepted grain traffickers and traced them to a location where a large number of people lay dead, each killed by a single sword stroke. Despite this, a significant portion of the lost relief grain had been recovered.
Li Xun immediately added fuel to the fire, claiming that even with the grain recovered, the people of Qingzhou had suffered a delay of over half a month, during which many had sold their children due to hunger. Li Qian, however, interrupted him, affirming that the disaster relief supplies were fully arranged and that no time had been lost. He explained that the Xuan River region had an abundant surplus of cotton, a scarce commodity in the south.
Overnight, he had dispatched men to the Dongting Lake area to negotiate with grain merchants, exchanging cotton for the much-needed relief grain. The grain was then transported via waterway with the aid of an east wind, tripling the speed of delivery. As a result, the supplies were expected to arrive in Qingzhou two to three days earlier than originally anticipated. Hearing this, the Emperor’s anger turned to delight, and he praised Li Qian for his resourcefulness.
Li Qian, in turn, humbly stated he was merely fulfilling his duty, reminding the Emperor that the perpetrators of the robbery still needed to be identified and the immediate priority was distributing the food. As Li Qian departed, Li Xun attempted to engage him in a discussion about the robbery, but Li Qian dismissed him, implying that any information he uncovered would disappear if passed through Li Xun, hinting at his brother's involvement in the well-timed theft.
Later, in the imperial harem, Huixin and Li Xun visited Consort Shu, presenting her with a beautiful fan from her hometown. As they were about to leave, the Emperor arrived. The conversation quickly turned into a coordinated act to manipulate the Emperor. Consort Shu initially expressed her wish for Huixin to bear children soon, which Huixin deftly redirected by suggesting Consort Shu focus on Li Qian instead, noting that Li Mingyue, the Princess of Xiyue, had not yet conceived.
Consort Shu then complained that Li Mingyue, despite being married to Li Qian for some time, remained wild and undisciplined, lacking proper etiquette and potentially influencing Li Qian's decorum, thus damaging the reputation of the royal family and court. Li Xun seized the opportunity, proposing that Li Qian take a secondary wife, a virtuous lady, to better manage the household.
Consort Shu supported this, arguing that having only a foreign princess as a wife was inappropriate and could lead to rumors if Li Mingyue remained barren. The Emperor agreed and tasked Consort Shu with selecting a suitable, dignified, and well-behaved woman to become Li Qian’s secondary wife. That evening, Li Qian appeared disheartened. Li Mingyue tried to cheer him up with a magic trick, but he remained dispirited.
He claimed that the Emperor had summoned him to the palace earlier that day, punishing him with three years’ worth of salary for acting arrogantly and dereliction of duty. Li Mingyue immediately grew anxious, insisting she would go to the Emperor to plead for a lesser penalty. Li Qian laughed and pulled her into his embrace, revealing he had merely been teasing her. Li Mingyue playfully hit him, then remembered his back injury and, at his request, kissed him.
Noticing Li Mingyue wasn't truly angry, Li Qian asked her why. She confessed that she was indeed upset – at him for harming himself, for not confiding in her, for ignoring her advice, and for leaving her alone to manage things. She declared that speaking of it only made her want to hit him more. Li Qian asked what he could do to appease her.
Li Mingyue considered this, then lay down to gaze at the stars, with Li Qian joining her. He sincerely apologized, admitting he shouldn't have vented his frustrations while neglecting her or left her to bear burdens alone. Li Mingyue, surprised to hear such an apology from the dignified King Zi, smiled and kissed him.
Later, Li Qian was summoned to the palace, where Consort Shu and the Emperor informed him that they had arranged his marriage to Pei Shutang, the daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue, Pei Ling. Li Qian immediately defied the imperial decree, stating his lifelong desire to marry only Li Mingyue, and pleaded with the Emperor to revoke the order. The Emperor did not directly respond.
Instead, he ordered a palace maid, who had been caught using forbidden witchcraft in the harem, to be dragged out and beaten to death. The Emperor sternly declared that such practices were strictly forbidden and anyone discovered using witchcraft or hypnosis would be killed. Witnessing this brutal display, and fearing for Li Mingyue's safety, Li Qian reluctantly acquiesced to the marriage.
Upon returning to his residence, Li Qian informed Li Mingyue that Pei Shutang would soon be marrying into the household. He instructed her to carefully hide the Zhuxin Bell, ensuring no one would discover it. Initially, Li Mingyue thought he was joking, but upon confirming the truth, she felt as if plunged into an icy abyss. Li Qian softly murmured that he had wronged her.
After this painful conversation, Li Qian left his residence and headed to Sikong Zhen's mansion, ostensibly for a sword-testing appointment, but his demeanor suggested he was preparing for a confrontation. Meanwhile, Sikong Zhen and his companion discussed how Li Qian was burdened by his choice to save the woman he loved, noting that his emotional distress was unusual for someone in his position, while also expressing concern over Li Mingyue's distress. That night was the wedding night.
Li Qian unveiled Pei Shutang, but he did not enter the bridal chamber. Instead, he abandoned his new bride and went directly to Li Mingyue's courtyard. Li Mingyue, inside her room, was furiously cursing Li Qian, unaware he was outside. Upon hearing her angry words, Li Qian turned and left. The next morning, Pei Shutang came to offer tea to Li Mingyue, deliberately mentioning how tired and sore she was, implying intimacy with Li Qian.
Li Mingyue, however, was unfazed and sarcastically suggested that Pei Shutang simply wasn't used to a soft bed, even offering to replace it with a cold, hard iron one. Li Qian then entered the room, his face expressionless, and instructed Pei Shutang to change and accompany him to the palace to begin learning to manage household affairs. He then told Li Mingyue to stop "fooling around" and return to her room to rest.
Li Mingyue, incensed, retreated to her room and angrily ranted, accusing Li Qian of losing his heart after one night. Meanwhile, Pei Shutang’s head maid, Yingting, bullied Tanli in the kitchen, snatching a bowl of tremella snow lotus soup. In the struggle, Tanli’s hand was scalded. Enraged by this injustice, Li Mingyue stormed into Pei Shutang’s room and demanded Yingting apologize to Tanli. Yingting refused, claiming Li Mingyue had no right to interfere with her mistress’s maid.
Li Mingyue retorted that she was punishing the maid for bullying her people and slapped Yingting across the face. As Li Mingyue continued to reprimand the maid and her mistress, Li Qian returned. Yingting, seeing him, immediately knelt and tearfully claimed that the Princess Consort had harassed Pei Shutang and assaulted her when she merely wanted a hot bowl of soup, demanding Li Qian dispense justice.
Li Mingyue, furious at Yingting's false accusations, tried to hit her again, but Li Qian grabbed her hand. Li Mingyue, infuriated, turned and stormed out. After Li Qian left, Pei Shutang, having learned the full story, admonished Yingting to stop taking matters into her own hands. Back in her room, Li Mingyue began packing her belongings, determined to return to Xiyue.
She reasoned that if Li Qian desired a secondary wife, she would relinquish her title and return to being a respected princess, rather than remain somewhere she could be bullied. Tanli, eager to help, quickly and efficiently packed a large bag. Li Mingyue, inwardly exasperated by Tanli's speed, feigned a dry laugh and tried to slow her down, saying there was no rush. Yet, within moments, Tanli had packed everything.
Soon after, Queyan arrived, informing Li Mingyue that Li Qian wanted her to organize the ancient books in the study, and that she was to do it alone. Li Mingyue suspected Li Qian was deliberately trying to vex her. Upon entering the disheveled study, while eating snacks brought by Queyan, she casually flipped through a book and was disgusted to find a passage about seducing men, throwing the book down in contempt.
Her eyes then caught sight of the clay figurine she had given Li Qian, placed inside a cabinet. Seeing that he had kept it, Li Mingyue’s spirits lifted. Within the cabinet, she also found a note: "Youshi (5-7 PM) at Luomei Pavilion, the suburbs of the city. See you there. From Qian." Li Mingyue decided to accept the invitation, not because she had forgiven Li Qian, but to discover what new tricks he intended to play. Outside, Queyan was heard reporting to someone, perhaps Li Qian, that the Princess Consort had spent the entire day packing her bags.
Episode 25 Recap
Following up on their agreement to meet, Li Qian finds Li Mingyue at Luomei Pavilion. She is still upset, but after Li Qian teases her, he earnestly states that no matter how knowledgeable and mature Pei Shutang is, he is not interested in her. He declares he only loves his foreign princess who may not be versed in literature, but enjoys playing with her scimitar, has a bit of a temper, and makes strange-tasting osmanthus cakes.
He then provocatively asks why she hasn't questioned him about what happened with Pei Shutang on their wedding night. Though threatening to return to Xiyue, Mingyue is intrigued and stays to listen. Li Qian explains that on their wedding night, he discovered scissors hidden on Pei Shutang and immediately realized she was sent by King Ling. Confronted, Pei Shutang confessed she was indeed sent by King Ling.
She revealed that she already had a beloved, Mister Baishang, an official who worked under her father, the Minister of Revenue, Pei Ling. Her father had blackmailed her by threatening Mister Baishang’s life, forcing her to marry into the prince's household with her maid, Yingting. Disheartened and seeking a quick death, she had hidden the scissors for self-immolation. Pei Shutang also disclosed that King Ling had another spy planted within the residence.
She offered to help Li Qian identify this spy if he would grant her wish to be reunited with Mister Baishang. Intrigued, Li Qian agreed, promising to help her leave the residence and be with her lover once the matter was resolved. As a sign of sincerity, she gave him an ecstasy pill that King Ling had intended for her to use on him.
Li Qian further explained that his recent displays of affection towards Pei Shutang were a deliberate act for Yingting’s benefit, intended to deceive King Ling into believing his scheme was succeeding. This charade would create an opportunity to feed false information to King Ling and expose the hidden spy. Understanding the plan, Li Mingyue feels a sense of pity for Pei Shutang, realizing they were both victims of political marriages.
Li Qian playfully suggests keeping Pei Shutang in the residence as a companion for Mingyue, which infuriates her. She immediately embraces Li Qian, possessively declaring her ownership over him and forbidding him from looking at any other woman. To fully commit to their act, Li Mingyue orchestrates a dramatic argument with Li Qian, while Tanli confirms that three specific maids—Bi'er, Zhui'er, and Fu'er—are secretly observing.
Li Mingyue then summons the three maids, instructing each to find a man named Uncle Zhong to purchase a different item: one for arsenic, one for gunpowder, and one for a potent incense. Soon after, Fu'er, the maid tasked with buying gunpowder, rushes to King Ling's residence. She reports that Li Qian and Li Mingyue are fighting fiercely over Pei Shutang, with Li Mingyue even threatening to return to Xiyue.
She adds that she overheard servants whispering that Li Qian had threatened to divorce Mingyue during their heated exchange. Upon hearing Fu'er’s report, Qiao Huixin is shocked. She questions how the deeply sentimental Li Qian could so easily consider divorcing his wife for Pei Shutang, especially after he had so firmly refused her own attempts to enter his household. Seeing Qiao Huixin's jealous anger, Li Xun grows uneasy.
He dismissively states that Li Qian is not as noble as she imagines and is susceptible to selfish desires, noting that he himself had given Pei Shutang an ecstasy pill to use. Though he believes Pei Shutang's words are only half-true, Li Xun acknowledges that the combined strategy of a beauty trap and a conflict-inducing scheme is proving effective. They agree it is time to intensify the situation.
Qiao Huixin arranges a meeting with Pei Shutang and informs her of Li Mingyue's purchase of gunpowder. Pei Shutang immediately deduces that Fu'er is the spy. Feigning intense fear, she repeatedly pleads with Qiao Huixin to save her. However, Yingting calmly voices suspicion that the prince and consort might be acting, as Li Qian had never truly punished Li Mingyue.
Reinforcing this doubt, Qiao Huixin expresses her own disbelief, pointing out how much effort she herself had expended in the past to no avail, finding it incredible that Pei Shutang could win Li Qian's favor so easily. Cornered by their combined skepticism, Pei Shutang quickly claims that Li Qian's apparent affection had momentarily blinded her. This explanation seems to secure Qiao Huixin's fragile trust, though she sternly warns that should anything go wrong, Mister Baishang would bear the consequences.
To further convince Qiao Huixin, Li Mingyue devises a plan for Li Qian to publicly strike her. Li Qian announces that in three days, for the upcoming Bird Festival, he intends to visit the Temple of the God of Marriage to pray. He explicitly states he will take Pei Shutang with him, as the temple is for lovers, leaving Li Mingyue to reflect on her misdeeds at home.
Li Mingyue reacts with feigned fury, confronting Pei Shutang and provoking Li Qian. As he moves to strike, Li Qian hesitates, unable to bring himself to hit her. Li Mingyue subtly uses hypnosis to compel him, and he finally delivers the blow. Unexpectedly, Princess Kangle arrives shortly after, outraged by the apparent abuse. She tries to drag Li Mingyue to confront Li Qian, but Mingyue quickly stops her. Just then, Fu'er arrives to deliver cakes from the side consort.
Capitalizing on the moment, Li Mingyue loudly claims she bought gunpowder because Princess Kangle wanted her to make firecrackers. Kangle promptly denies it, but Li Mingyue covers her mouth and whispers for her not to go to the Temple of the God of Marriage on the Bird Festival. Fu'er overhears this exchange and reports to Qiao Huixin, asserting that Li Mingyue’s purchase of gunpowder was indeed intended to harm the side consort. This time, Qiao Huixin is fully convinced.
Convinced by the report, Qiao Huixin proposes using the Bird Festival to eliminate Li Mingyue. Li Xun suggests they seize the chance to injure Li Qian as well, killing two birds with one stone. Qiao Huixin vehemently rejects this, not out of lingering affection, but because she desires a more agonizing fate for him; she wants him to live and witness his complete ruin and betrayal by all.
Seeing her resolute malice, Li Xun reluctantly concedes, musing inwardly about the bitter irony of wanting to believe her passionate lies despite knowing the truth. Li Mingyue and Tanli proceed to carefully hide the gunpowder within an incense burner at the temple, making sure that one of Li Xun's agents, who is observing them, clearly sees their actions.
Meanwhile, Li Xun shrewdly suggests to the Emperor that he and the Empress Dowager should also visit the Temple of the God of Marriage to burn incense. On the day of the Bird Festival, the Emperor, accompanied by Li Qian, Pei Shutang, Li Xun, and Qiao Huixin, arrives at the temple. The imperial astronomers had reported that if Prince Zi lit the first incense, it would bring blessings to all. Following this, Li Qian prepares to light the incense.
Pei Shutang steps forward to light her own first, praying for a life free of hardship with her beloved. Li Qian then offers his own prayer, reflecting on how he once didn't believe in destiny but now realizes the God of Marriage had brought his true love to him. Just as the Emperor expresses his satisfaction, and Li Xun questions the absence of Li Mingyue, Cao Fu, the Capital Governor, dramatically rushes in. He reports an urgent discovery: gunpowder is circulating in the city, and intelligence indicates that malicious individuals have planted it within the temple itself.
Episode 26 Recap
At the temple of the god of marriage, the Emperor arrived with his concubine, accompanied by King Zi Li Qian and his wife Li Mingyue, and King Ling Li Xun with his wife Qiao Huixin. The city magistrate, Cao Fu, presented the temple's secretary, who appeared suspicious. The secretary nervously reported that Princess Zi, Li Mingyue, had made arrangements at the temple, but he was unsure if they involved gunpowder.
At this, Li Qian's second wife, Pei Shutang, feigned shock and fainted, claiming Li Mingyue intended to harm her. Li Qian wanted his guard Diwu Cheng to escort Pei Shutang home, but Qiao Huixin intervened, arguing this might leak news and allow Li Mingyue to flee. Qiao Huixin offered to personally escort Pei Shutang to the Ling residence for her safety, and the Emperor agreed.
Shortly after, Fu'er, a maid from the Zi household, confessed that she had bought gunpowder for Li Mingyue, though she claimed ignorance of its intended use. Li Xun immediately suspected a premeditated act, suggesting it amounted to rebellion. With everyone on high alert, Li Xun opened the incense burner where the "gunpowder" was supposedly hidden. To his surprise, he found only carved wooden mandarin ducks and concentric knots, items used for blessing marriages.
Li Xun was perplexed, recalling that he had his man, Qin Yuan, confirm it was gunpowder just the previous night. Meanwhile, en route to the Ling residence, Pei Shutang faked sickness and had Qiao Huixin stop the carriage. She seized the opportunity to escape to Sikong's residence, where she was reunited with Mister Baishang. Qiao Huixin realized they had been tricked.
Sikong, who helped orchestrate the escape, remarked that he did it for his friend and his friend's "difficult-to-handle princess," hinting at Li Qian and Li Mingyue's involvement in the scheme. Back at the temple, Li Xun pressed Li Qian about the location of the gunpowder Li Mingyue had bought. Just then, fireworks lit up the sky, and Princess Kangle arrived with Li Mingyue.
Kangle joyfully explained that the fireworks were a surprise for the Emperor and his concubine for the Bird Festival. She had pestered Li Mingyue for days to buy gunpowder and help her make them. Li Qian then clarified that the wooden ducks and knots found in the incense burner were for blessings, and Li Mingyue had even included prayers for the Emperor, his concubine, and Li Xun's family.
The truth became clear, leading Li Qian to suggest that someone had deliberately framed his wife. Li Xun, realizing his error, knelt and admitted his dereliction of duty. Qiao Huixin rushed back, reporting Pei Shutang's sudden disappearance and accusing Li Qian of being involved. The two brothers argued fiercely. The Emperor chastised Li Xun for stirring up trouble and ordered him to reflect on his actions under house arrest.
Cao Fu was dismissed, and Fu'er was beaten to death for her false testimony. In a private moment, Li Qian explained to Li Mingyue that he had to let her bury real gunpowder initially to trick the ever-suspicious Li Xun and Qin Yuan, ensuring they would take the bait before the items were swapped. He then praised her, saying that with her involvement, everything went smoothly. Following this incident, Li Qian and Li Mingyue's relationship deepened.
They prayed together to the god of marriage, vowing to be together for all lifetimes. When Li Qian jokingly asked what she would do if the Emperor ordered him to take another concubine, she turned the question back on him. He vowed he would rather die than comply, satisfying her. They continued to playfully tease each other.
Elsewhere, Li Xun faced a different reality; his defeat had stripped him of his power, and Pei Ling, Pei Shutang's father, now resented him. Feeling weary, Li Xun expressed his desire to simply grow old with Qiao Huixin, even if it meant not becoming the crown prince. However, Qiao Huixin refused to give up, stating her father's revenge remained unfulfilled. She declared that if Li Xun lost heart, she would seek vengeance alone.
Pained by her words, Li Xun vowed to bear all her burdens, hoping to see her smile again. Qiao Huixin asserted that her path would be arduous and that Li Xun was her only reliance, pledging to help him achieve glory and "trample Li Qian underfoot." In his heart, Li Xun grieved that he could not be the man Qiao Huixin truly loved, yet he loved every aspect of her.
The next morning, Li Qian appeared tired, leading his friends, Jin Yu and Azhen, to tease him about a pleasant night. They joked about the potency of the Qinan incense and speculated about his romantic encounters, referencing Li Mingyue's previous use of gunpowder for dealing with betrayal. Li Qian assured them he could control himself. The friends then humorously noted that with Princess Kangle now pursuing Jin Yu, at least he would be spared any more unwelcome concubines.
Soon after, news arrived that for the Emperor's birthday, a delegation from Xiyue was en route, led by the new Crown Prince, Kaierbi. To Li Qian's dismay, Yunsi would also be accompanying them. Li Qian was troubled, having learned that Yunsi had distinguished himself in battle, becoming the highest commander of the Xiyue cavalry. Later, Li Mingyue approached Li Qian on a swing, teasingly stating she couldn't sleep alone and had come to take him back to rest.
Li Qian, appearing dispirited, informed her of Yunsi and Kaierbi's impending arrival. Li Mingyue feigned excitement, claiming she missed her brother and Yunsi. Li Qian grew more agitated, asking if she no longer felt the need to hide her feelings from him. Li Mingyue gently held his hand, reassuring him that she had entirely moved on and now saw Yunsi only as an old friend.
She reasoned that if she were to hide her feelings, that would be the real cause for his concern. Li Qian, hearing this, felt greatly relieved. Later, outside the mansion, Li Mingyue was delighted to see her horse, Shifei. She took it for a ride, but the horse seemed uncontrollable and led her to a bamboo forest, where Yunsi was waiting. Li Mingyue angrily confronted him, realizing he was behind Shifei's erratic behavior.
Yunsi presented her with a bride's crown, declaring that no matter what, she would always be Aimaila to him, the woman he wished to spend his life with. Li Mingyue admired the crown but gently told him to give it to a woman who truly loved him. Yunsi passionately explained that he had returned to Xiyue, sought out the most dangerous battlefields, and climbed the ranks.
He asserted that Xiyue's military power was now strong enough to resist Beixuan, and his influence in the army was so great that even the Xiyue King could not control him. He believed nothing could stop them now. Upon learning that Li Mingyue had been taken by Shifei, Li Qian worried that Yunsi, given his temperament, might forcibly abduct her. He immediately ordered a city-wide lockdown to ensure no one took Li Mingyue away.
Li Qian then set off to search the markets she frequented. Meanwhile, Li Mingyue candidly told Yunsi that her past choices were for herself and that she had truly fallen in love with Li Qian, genuinely considering Yunsi her good brother. Enraged and heartbroken, Yunsi threw the bride's crown to the ground. Li Mingyue rode away. As she departed, Qiao Huixin appeared behind Yunsi. His resolve hardened, Yunsi declared that he now believed that as long as Li Qian lived, Aimaila would never return to him, and therefore, Li Qian had to disappear.
Episode 27 Recap
Li Qian stormed into the restaurant where Yunsi was, demanding to know Li Mingyue’s whereabouts. Yunsi calmly confirmed that she had returned to her manor and then offered Li Qian two choices: first, to return Aimaila (Li Mingyue) to him, which would ensure the safety of both Li Qian and Beixuan. Before Yunsi could state the second option, Li Qian furiously cut him off, declaring that no matter the choice, he would protect both Li Mingyue and Beixuan.
Yunsi questioned if Li Qian was being overly arrogant or simply underestimating him. Li Qian acknowledged Yunsi's capabilities but affirmed that for Li Mingyue's sake, he had to embrace that arrogance. He warned Yunsi that if he harbored any further ill intentions, Li Qian would confront him to the very end. As Li Qian turned to leave, Yunsi cautioned him to remember that everything that happened was a result of his choice and not to blame others.
Upon returning to his manor, Li Qian was relieved to find Li Mingyue and embraced her tightly. He confessed his deep worry and fear of losing her, explaining that while he was confident in her loyalty, he was concerned Yunsi might harm her. Li Qian recounted seeing Yunsi at the restaurant, noting his deliberate presence and unwillingness to give up on Li Mingyue. He urged her not to venture out alone, unsettled by Yunsi’s air of control.
Li Mingyue reassured him that she would obey. She then inquired about her second brother, Prince Kaierbi, who had not returned. Li Qian immediately dispatched Diwu Cheng to search for him, asking him to inform Kaierbi that Li Mingyue was safe and to have him return swiftly. Later that evening, Diwu Cheng urgently reported that he could not locate Prince Kaierbi or his attendants anywhere in the city.
Instead, he had discovered Kaierbi’s horse and blood-stained saber outside an abandoned house in the eastern suburbs. Deeply concerned, Li Mingyue watched as Li Qian recognized the saber and promised to bring Kaierbi back safely. He instructed Diwu Cheng to guard Li Mingyue’s room and forbade her from leaving the manor until his return. Li Qian rushed to the abandoned house and found numerous bodies but no sign of Kaierbi.
Puzzled, he examined the corpses and discovered the wounds were inflicted by Kaierbi’s own saber. As he contemplated this, Yunsi and his men appeared and surrounded him. They were brought before the Emperor, where Yunsi accused Li Qian of assassinating Xiyue warriors and kidnapping Prince Kaierbi, claiming to have irrefutable proof.
Li Qian recounted that he and Kaierbi had separated after entering the city and he was unaware of the prince's whereabouts until his guard found the saber, which prompted him to investigate. The Emperor chastised Li Qian for not reporting the discovery to the Dali Temple, and Li Qian admitted his fault, explaining he acted rashly out of a desire to save Kaierbi. Yunsi then accused the Emperor of protecting Li Qian.
The Emperor countered that Yunsi had only witnessed Li Qian at the scene, not committing a crime, and that all witnesses were Yunsi’s own men, making their testimony subject to verification. Li Qian offered to let Yunsi search his manor, but Yunsi dismissed it as futile. When the Emperor proposed a joint search, Yunsi refused, accusing Beixuan of a larger plot.
He claimed that with the Xiyue King aging, controlling Prince Kaierbi would destabilize Xiyue and force it to become dependent on Beixuan, calling it a blatant attempt at annexation. He threatened war if Kaierbi was not handed over. Li Qian retorted that Yunsi’s coincidental appearance, refusal to search, and belligerence proved he was the one who truly intended to start a war and likely knew Kaierbi's location.
Yunsi ignored the counter-accusation and issued a one-day ultimatum: if Kaierbi was not returned, the armies of Xiyue and Beixuan would meet on the battlefield. After Yunsi departed, the Emperor sternly warned Li Qian to handle the grave matter appropriately and not plunge Beixuan into a deadlock. Alone, Li Qian deduced that Yunsi had an accomplice in the capital and recalled Yunsi’s repeated phrase about "choice and blame," realizing it echoed words previously spoken by Qiao Huixin.
Meanwhile, Li Xun witnessed Yunsi taking an unconscious Kaierbi from Qiao Huixin's presence. He confronted her, aghast at her treasonous act. Qiao Huixin calmly stated that Yunsi's true goal was not war, but to kill Li Qian. When Li Xun expressed his unwillingness to see her become a traitor, she blackmailed him, threatening to expose his past crimes, including framing a consort and orchestrating the fire Li Qian believed killed his mother.
She reminded him that since she had helped keep his secrets, he now had no choice but to cooperate with her. Though Li Xun was willing to sacrifice himself for her, he questioned the cost to Beixuan's innocent people. Qiao Huixin remained resolute, declaring, "The arrow has left the bowstring." Anxious in the manor, Li Mingyue was met by a defeated-looking Li Qian. He apologized, admitting only that Kaierbi’s servants were dead and he had been taken, concealing the frame-up.
She readily affirmed her trust in him but questioned why the search had stopped. Li Qian promised to bring him back, claiming to have no clear leads. However, Li Mingyue suspected Yunsi’s involvement and Li Qian's concealment, recalling Yunsi’s words: "Everything that happened today is because of your choice. Do not blame others." Driven by his own suspicions, Li Qian confronted Qiao Huixin, directly asking if she was connected to Kaierbi’s disappearance.
Filled with resentment, she mocked his hypocrisy in seeking her help after his past coldness and the murder of her father. Qiao Huixin then confirmed she knew Kaierbi’s location, insinuating that Li Qian also knew where he was and, more importantly, what Yunsi truly desired. She declared that the choice, and thus the future of Beixuan and Xiyue, now rested solely with him. Li Qian departed in anger, leaving a tearful Qiao Huixin behind.
Having deduced Yunsi was responsible, Li Mingyue went to confront him. Yunsi falsely claimed Li Qian had framed him, but she saw through the lie, stating she had figured it out herself. She accused him of using the Shifei horse as a lure to kidnap her brother and frame her husband. Yunsi admitted his goal was to get her back, promising that if she returned to him, Kaierbi, Li Qian, and both their nations would be safe.
Appalled, Li Mingyue asked how he could use his brother so cruelly. Yunsi bitterly retorted that Kaierbi had betrayed him first by taking her away. He lamented that while she and Kaierbi had forgiven each other, no one considered his pain. Shocked by his transformation into a stubborn and cruel man, Li Mingyue mourned the bold Yunsi she once knew. Yunsi philosophized that love had made him despicable and declared, "You are mine. You were, and you’ll continue to be."
He gave an ultimatum: if Li Qian failed to hand over Kaierbi by day's end, a declaration of war would be sent. When Li Mingyue asked if he was truly determined to sever their last bond, she vowed that if anything happened to Kaierbi, she would personally take his life. Wounded by her words, Yunsi flew into a rage and violently slashed all the flower arrangements in the room. The following day, Yunsi sent a declaration of war.
The Emperor was furious, chastising Li Qian for allowing the situation to escalate and risking the loss of Xiyue as a vital buffer state. Taking full responsibility, Li Qian requested permission to personally negotiate with Yunsi. Though skeptical, the Emperor reluctantly agreed. Li Qian explained that he understood Yunsi’s true objective was personal, and his presence alone would satisfy it, denying Xiyue a casus belli. Furthermore, with the treasury drained by recent civic projects, Beixuan could not afford a war.
The Emperor granted his request, urging him to return unharmed. Seizing the moment, Li Xun suggested placing Li Mingyue under house arrest in his own manor as leverage. Li Qian vehemently rejected this, refusing to allow his wife to be insulted. The Emperor ultimately ordered Li Mingyue to be confined within the palace, where she was to be treated with the respect due to her rank. Before departing, Li Qian’s final plea to his father was to treat Li Mingyue kindly, which the Emperor promised to do.
Episode 28 Recap
Before Li Qian's departure for Xiyue, Li Mingyue meticulously prepared a cloak she had personally sewn for him, along with a variety of medicines for burns, frostbite, bruises, colds, and fevers. Fearing he wouldn't sleep well, she also packed sleeping medicine, clothes, and wine. Li Qian playfully remarked that she seemed to be hoping for his injury, but Li Mingyue insisted it was better to be over-prepared.
She tearfully expressed her wish for his swift return so she could see and hold him every day, blaming herself for his dangerous journey. Li Qian reassured her that his trip to Xiyue was for peace talks, not war, but admitted that Yunsi's previous schemes indicated a desire to harm her. He explained that his willingness to go himself was to prevent Yunsi from having a reason to target her.
He asked her to patiently endure his absence and promised to return when the city's flowers bloomed, to pick one for her and make tea. Li Mingyue urged him to take care, vowing to ignore him if he returned late, and fiercely declared that no matter where he was, she would be waiting.
Li Qian then entrusted Li Mingyue's safety to Kangle, who would remain in the palace, and Diwu Cheng, who was instructed to stay in Xing'an to assist Li Mingyue should any unforeseen circumstances arise, allowing Li Qian peace of mind. He also cautioned Jinyu, another attendant, not to let Kangle act recklessly in his absence, threatening punishment upon his return.
Li Qian confessed his fear of speaking about the dangers of his trip, lest it prevent him from returning before the flowers withered, hoping for a swift reunion to fulfill his promises. Li Mingyue, reflecting on their first meeting, silently reiterated her longing for him and their promised future together, wishing for the flowers to bloom quickly so Li Qian could return and reunite with her.
A guard then reminded Li Mingyue that it was time to return to Yeting, where she was being held under house arrest. Li Mingyue expressed guilt over Li Qian's predicament while she remained safe in Xing'an, but Kangle reassured her that her presence served as a deterrent to Yunsi and a comfort to the Emperor, effectively acting as a hostage. Kangle also vowed to ensure Li Mingyue's well-being in the palace, even jokingly threatening anyone who dared to displease her.
Meanwhile, Qiao Huixin, with Li Xun, confessed that Li Qian was being driven to his death, musing that the feeling of exacting such revenge was not as satisfying as she had anticipated. Li Xun silently comforted her. At the Xiyue border, Yunsi stood atop the city walls, taunting Li Qian, who he claimed had become an abandoned prince. Li Qian, seated on his horse, challenged Yunsi, asking why the gates remained closed when he had arrived as agreed.
He mocked Yunsi, questioning if he feared a handful of Beixuan men could conquer his camp. Yunsi dismissed Li Qian's verbal provocations, stating that if Li Qian was sincere about peace, he should enter the camp alone, otherwise he should return, for Xiyue's cavalry would otherwise meet him at Xing'an. Li Qian's subordinates warned him of a possible trap within the camp and urged him not to venture alone.
Li Qian, however, dismissed their concerns, arguing that bringing them along would make no difference if there was indeed a trap. He instructed them to wait outside and, if they heard any commotion or if he didn't return by nightfall, to immediately report back to Xing'an.
He specifically warned his father not to believe any threats made using his life, stating that if he died, it would be a voluntary sacrifice for the Prince of Xiyue, and Beixuan should not bear the responsibility. He further stressed that if he met an unfortunate end, Li Mingyue must remain Queen Zi of Beixuan, as punishing her would incur Xiyue's wrath and render all his efforts meaningless. His subordinates confirmed their understanding.
Li Qian then entered the camp alone, where his sword was immediately confiscated. Yunsi questioned why Li Qian had come to die, implying he had not brought what Yunsi desired or perhaps a letter of surrender. Li Qian retorted that Yunsi's threats had been designed to lure him to his death. Li Qian then boldly offered to repay whatever Li Mingyue owed Yunsi if Yunsi would withdraw his troops.
Yunsi doubted Li Qian's ability to pay, but Li Qian confidently asserted he could, pointing out that Yunsi was still alive, suggesting Mingyue owed nothing significant. Li Qian speculated that Yunsi feared repaying the debt would remove any justification for harming him and Li Mingyue. Yunsi, undeterred, stated that what he had done for Aimaila was beyond Li Qian's comprehension and affordability. Li Qian pressed the gamble, daring Yunsi to accept.
Yunsi agreed and listed the debts: at fifteen, he broke his left arm saving Aimaila from a fall; later, in Beixuan, when Aimaila was assassinated and Li Qian was absent, he was wounded by a sword saving her. Li Qian, without hesitation, demonstrated his commitment by driving arrows into his own arm and chest to repay these specific debts. However, Yunsi then declared that Aimaila had promised him her entire life, a debt that only she could personally repay.
Li Qian condemned Yunsi's heart as "rancid and dirty." Yunsi fiercely retorted that "they" had forced him to be this way, asserting that his heart, however defiled, belonged solely to Aimaila and he would never accept it back. In a shocking act, Yunsi ruthlessly executed one of his own Xiyue soldiers, proclaiming that Xiyue also owed him dearly and that Li Qian would now bear this "sin" as well.
Yunsi then falsely accused Li Qian of assassination, declaring that the peace talks had failed. Li Qian, stunned to be "bitten back," immediately recognized Yunsi's true motive: he dared not kill Li Qian personally but sought to frame him for assassination, thereby allowing him to die "justifiably" amidst the ensuing chaos. Yunsi indeed admitted he dared not kill Li Qian himself, for he still desired Aimaila.
He then cynically told Li Qian to run, suggesting that if he ran fast enough, he might still cling to life. As Xiyue soldiers converged on Li Qian, his loyal Beixuan soldiers outside the camp realized his dire situation. One urged them to follow Li Qian's earlier orders and report back to Xing'an, but the others, defiant, declared they would not abandon their prince, even if it meant disobeying military orders. They charged into the camp to rescue him.
Li Qian fought fiercely, battling through the enemy ranks. His remaining soldiers, after helping him mount his horse, sacrificed themselves, protecting him as he rode towards the closing camp gates. Yunsi was astonished by the Beixuan soldiers' unwavering loyalty. He ordered their proper burial, but immediately commanded his troops to relentlessly pursue Li Qian, demanding that he be brought back, dead or alive. Back in Yeting, Qiao Huixin, feigning concern, visited Li Mingyue.
She revealed that King Zi had been captured after attempting to assassinate Yunsi, and his fate was uncertain. Li Mingyue vehemently denied the possibility, but Qiao Huixin insisted that soldiers had reported it and the news was widely known in the palace. Witnessing Li Mingyue's distress, Qiao Huixin angrily accused her of being unqualified to feel sad, claiming that Li Qian's misfortune was entirely her fault.
She asserted that Li Mingyue had used "magic" to confuse Li Qian, driving him to disregard diplomatic relations, risk his life, and even kill her own father. Li Mingyue vehemently rejected the accusation regarding her father, countering that Li Qian would never harm anyone because of her. Qiao Huixin persisted, claiming she had personally witnessed Li Qian's sword pierce her father's heart.
Li Mingyue, however, retorted that even eyewitness accounts could be deceptive, challenging Qiao Huixin's supposed love for Li Qian by questioning if she truly understood or believed him, given her accusations. Li Mingyue steadfastly affirmed her belief that Li Qian would return alive, having promised her. Qiao Huixin then challenged her to a gamble, to see how long Li Mingyue's resolve would last. Their heated exchange was overheard by Zhou.
Determined to save Li Qian, Li Mingyue decided to escape Yeting. She approached her guard, a man surnamed Huang, offering him wine and attempting to engage him in conversation. Despite his initial reluctance and attempts to send her back to her courtyard, she playfully persisted, giving him the nickname "Big Head" and flattering his appearance, predicting a bright future of promotion and wealth. While he was distracted by her playful fortune-telling, she successfully hypnotized him.
She then quickly changed into a set of men's clothes she had prepared for emergencies. Soon after, Sikong Zhen arrived with Kangle and Jinyu, who had been discussing plans to forcibly rescue her or use a forged imperial decree. Sikong Zhen explained that his plan had been to use a "honey trap" through Jinyu, but Li Mingyue's proactive actions had coincidentally aligned with his "old method" of using trickery.
He acknowledged her refusal to passively wait and informed her of Li Qian's immediate danger, emphasizing the urgency of their departure. Kangle insisted on joining them, but Sikong Zhen instructed her and Jinyu to remain in the palace. Their task was to monitor Qiao Huixin's movements and to be ready to receive Li Qian if he managed to return to the palace.
Shortly after Li Mingyue's escape, a servant informed Qiao Huixin of the successful rescue by Kangle and Sikong Zhen. The Emperor had already ordered the sealing of Sikong Mansion and declared Li Mingyue a wanted fugitive, while Kangle had been punished. Qiao Huixin surmised that Li Mingyue and Sikong Zhen were heading to find Li Qian and had not yet gone far. Li Xun confirmed that horsemen were ready for immediate departure, anticipating Qiao Huixin's desire to intercept them, knowing he would always block anything that could harm her.
Episode 29 Recap
Sikong Zhen and Li Mingyue rested briefly outdoors before continuing their journey. Li Mingyue expressed concern that her companions had suffered greatly because of her. Sikong Zhen reassured her, explaining that Song Jinyu, disguised as a woman, was unrecognized and escaped unharmed. Kangle, despite facing some punishment, was protected by her status as a princess. As for himself, Sikong Zhen stated he had nothing to lose.
Li Mingyue then learned the tragic truth about Sikong Zhen's past: his father died serving the country, and his entire family was subsequently annihilated by rebels. He revealed that he did not grow up in the Sikong mansion but was raised alone outside. By the time he found his family, he had become an orphan, left to bear all the honors and rewards alone, unsure whether to feel joy or sorrow.
Sikong Zhen described Li Qian as different from his past "wine and meat friends," stating that he was the only one who truly understood Li Qian in the past, but now Li Qian also had Li Mingyue. He told Li Mingyue that she was special and Li Qian was very fortunate to have her.
Li Mingyue acknowledged their differences, admitting she still didn't fully comprehend why it was Li Qian, or when he had rooted himself so deeply in her heart. Sikong Zhen, observing their profound connection, expressed his deep satisfaction in being able to devote all his effort to protecting such a beautiful relationship. Suddenly, Sikong Zhen detected the sound of many well-trained approaching footsteps.
He quickly helped Li Mingyue onto a horse, urging her to leave while he stayed behind to face the attackers, confident he could handle them. Meanwhile, Li Xun received permission from the Emperor to lead troops to rescue Li Qian. Huixin insisted on accompanying him, viewing it as a perfect opportunity to ensure no one but Li Qian survived to be an obstacle. Li Xun reminded her of the irreversible nature of her path.
Huixin, tidying his collar, declared she had already crossed the point of no return. Following Sikong Zhen's instructions, Li Mingyue traveled through a small forest path towards Xiyue, while Li Qian galloped back along the main road, causing them to narrowly miss each other. Li Qian, determined to return, thought that if he could not see Li Mingyue again in this life, it would be worse than death.
Inside the palace, with the Sikong family residence sealed by the Emperor, Kangle and Song Jinyu were restless. Kangle, incensed, threatened to tear down the imperial seals, but Song Jinyu calmed her, warning that such an act would only further anger the Emperor. Kangle expressed deep worry for Sikong Zhen, Li Qian, and Li Mingyue.
Song Jinyu tried to reassure her, suggesting that Sikong Zhen's disappearance was preferable to being captured by King Ling, and Li Mingyue, being a seasoned martial artist, could manage on her own. He noted that Sikong Zhen was injured and could only rely on them. Realizing Sikong Zhen would hide somewhere only he would think of, Song Jinyu suddenly deduced his location. Indeed, Yunsi was waiting for Li Mingyue in a tent.
Upon seeing her, he greeted Aimaila with solicitous concern. Li Mingyue, however, immediately pressed him for information about her second brother and Li Qian.
Ignoring her questions, Yunsi presented a collection of cherished items: a bracelet he bought for her last year but couldn't give her before she left for Beixuan, the food box from the time she brought him handmade desserts when he broke his arm protecting her, and the ointment she gave him after he took thirty whips for her. He passionately declared that every small detail related to her was precious to him.
He adamantly believed that Li Mingyue's feelings for Li Qian were a result of hypnosis and thus fake, asserting that her true feelings belonged with him. Li Mingyue, witnessing his stubborn delusion, gently affirmed that she knew he truly loved her in the past, and she had genuinely loved him in return. However, she emphasized that time had passed, circumstances had changed, and they could not go back, as she had already found her true home.
Yunsi recounted his profound suffering and fear after her diplomatic marriage, and his overwhelming joy upon seeing her again. Before he could elaborate further, Li Mingyue interrupted, stating that lovers do not always grow old together. She explained that all things in heaven and earth have their natural cycles of birth, death, gathering, and scattering, which cannot be reversed by human effort. Yunsi, however, remained bitter, questioning why such a fate should befall him when he had done no wrong.
Li Mingyue clarified that neither of them was at fault. She reiterated her request to see her second brother and Li Qian, cleverly adding that if he truly wished to spend his life with her, he would want her to be free of worries and willing, wouldn't he? Conceding, Yunsi led Li Mingyue to Kaierbi. Kaierbi, due to his skill in hypnosis, had his eyes bound.
Li Mingyue untied his blindfold and implored Yunsi to release him, then subtly attempted to hypnotize Yunsi herself. Yunsi, having anticipated her move, swiftly snatched away the Zhuxin Bell. He then gave Kaierbi two grim choices: either hypnotize Aimaila to erase her memories of Li Qian, or die by Yunsi's blade, leaving Aimaila to marry him while burdened with painful memories of Li Qian. Kaierbi was unbound and took the Zhuxin Bell, then proceeded to feign hypnotizing Li Mingyue.
He recited the hypnotic suggestion that upon waking, her memory would revert to her time in Xiyue, having never been to Beixuan or met King Zi Li Qian, and that the person named Li Mingyue never existed, only Aimaila, the princess of Xiyue. Later, Song Jinyu successfully located a complaining Sikong Zhen hiding in a brothel and brought him back to the palace.
Meanwhile, Aimaila awoke, artfully pretending to have no memory of being Li Mingyue or her past with Li Qian, thereby cooperating with Yunsi. Yunsi, still harboring doubts, tested Aimaila's memory. He quickly discovered her deception, realizing she had never forgotten the past. Overcome with anguish, Yunsi, a rough man who had lived freely, admitted he could not let her go.
In a desperate attempt to retrieve what he believed was his Aimaila, he confined her to her room, forbidding her from leaving until their wedding. Elsewhere, Kangle managed to procure some medicine for Sikong Zhen's injuries. However, she was inept at bandaging and refused to let Sikong Zhen do it himself.
When she thought the "first step" to bandaging was to remove Sikong Zhen's clothes, Song Jinyu frantically intervened, leading to a comical argument that left the injured Sikong Zhen exasperated. Meanwhile, Li Qian covertly returned to the camp and successfully rescued Kaierbi.
Episode 30 Recap
King Li Xun of Beixuan led his troops to the outskirts of the Xiyue camp. After a reconnaissance by his soldiers, it was reported that Pugu Yunsi was preparing to marry Li Mingyue, slaughtering animals and setting up for a grand feast to entertain the entire camp that evening. Qiao Huixin, accompanying Li Xun, immediately recognized this as a prime opportunity to capture them all.
She presented a potent medicine to a soldier, instructing him to mix it into the soup served to the Xiyue soldiers, assuring them it would incapacitate their enemies without costing a single soldier on their side. Li Xun confirmed that he had already severed all communication between the camp and the rest of Xiyue, ensuring Yunsi was effectively trapped. Once the soldiers were incapacitated, Li Xun planned to lead his forces in, effortlessly eliminating all their formidable adversaries.
Qiao Huixin pledged to await his triumphant return. Meanwhile, inside the lavish bridal chamber, Li Mingyue impatiently dismissed the attending maids and cast aside her elaborate bridal crown. As she despaired over her predicament, Li Qian suddenly appeared behind her, announcing he already knew of her plight. Overwhelmed with emotion, Li Mingyue cried tears of relief, confessing she thought she would never see him again.
Li Qian held her close, assuring her he would always come to her rescue, and they shared a deep kiss. Li Mingyue noticed his injuries, but he dismissed them, stating the pain of missing her was far more severe than any physical wound. He explained that he had navigated the forest paths to the border, having narrowly escaped Yunsi's pursuit after being saved by Zhen and Kangle.
He revealed that Zhen had courageously stayed behind to face Li Xun's pursuing soldiers, his fate now uncertain. Li Qian was confident in Zhen's intelligence and ability to survive, believing he would live to be repaid. However, Li Qian then confronted Li Mingyue about her impending marriage, revealing he had witnessed her being wed to another. Li Mingyue hastily clarified that it was not her choice, explaining that Yunsi had taken Kaierbi hostage and coerced Kaierbi into hypnotizing her.
She desperately wanted him to understand that she was not eager to remarry, especially not because she thought he was dead. Li Qian passionately declared that as long as he lived, he would never give her the chance to marry another; he was her only husband and the last man she could ever love.
Li Mingyue agreed, acknowledging her wild nature and asking him to keep her close so she would never leave him again, a promise Li Qian readily made. Recognizing the danger of their current location, Li Qian urged them to leave immediately, mentioning he had already rescued his second brother from captivity and sent him to report back to Xiyue. As they prepared to depart, Xiyue soldiers burst into the room. Yunsi entered, ordering Li Qian's execution.
In a desperate act, Li Mingyue, also known as Aimaila, swiftly drew a knife and held it to her own throat, proclaiming that if Li Qian died, she would die too. She gave Yunsi a stark choice: either kill them both or release them. Yunsi, distraught, questioned if she would truly rather die than be with him.
Aimaila clarified that it was not a preference for death, but a promise she had made to Li Qian—that he was her only husband, and she would follow him to death, no matter where they went. Yunsi lamented his inability to capture her heart. Suddenly, the sounds of battle erupted as Beixuan soldiers launched a surprise attack on the camp. A Xiyue soldier reported that their forces were poisoned and cut off from other camps, suffering significant losses.
Yunsi realized that Li Qian had not merely brought reinforcements but had orchestrated a plan involving poisoning and an inside collaborator. He then understood that the leader of the attacking force was Li Xun, King Ling of Beixuan. As the chaos intensified, Yunsi quickly led Li Qian and Li Mingyue to a secret passage beneath the main hall, a place only he knew of, believing Li Xun would not find them there.
Hidden within the passage, Yunsi, consumed by anger and realization, acknowledged that Li Xun's sudden assault meant he had been tricked. He recognized Qiao Huixin's sinister plot, using him as a pawn to eliminate her own targets, and bitterly noted how close her scheme came to harming Aimaila. In the confines of the secret passage, Li Qian assured Li Mingyue that he would protect her with his life if the hidden room was discovered.
Yunsi then turned to Li Mingyue, reminding her of his promise that as long as he was alive, she would never have to resort to using her small scimitar to take her own life. He apologized for his past wrongs and for hurting her, asking for her forgiveness. Li Mingyue refused, stating that if he truly recognized his mistakes, he should seek atonement by escaping.
Yunsi, with a profound sense of resolve, accepted her refusal, saying, "If I can't repay it, then let me owe you. If our debt is cleared, I fear that in the afterlife, you will stop asking me to repay." He then returned the Zhuxin Bell to Li Mingyue and asked to borrow a hairpin from her.
Despite Li Mingyue's desperate pleas for him not to leave, Yunsi, knowing his purpose and acknowledging that Li Qian was Aimaila's only husband, declared his sacrifice was not for Mingyue directly, but for the one who cherished her as his sole Aimaila. He then instructed Li Qian to protect Li Mingyue no matter what happened outside, and then, taking a knife, he exited the secret passage.
Yunsi then meticulously set the scene, leaving Li Mingyue's hairpin and Li Qian's ornate sword in a prominent position within the building, staging the appearance of their deaths. He then confronted Li Xun. When Li Xun demanded he hand over Prince Zi and Princess, Yunsi, filled with bitterness, revealed he had killed Li Qian and Li Mingyue, claiming he had fulfilled their wish to die together. Li Xun scoffed, doubting Yunsi's ability to kill Li Mingyue.
Yunsi defiantly explained that while he had protected and loved her with all his heart, her heart only belonged to Li Qian, and such a woman, though Li Xun might tolerate, he could not. Li Xun, accepting Yunsi's confession, immediately ordered his troops to kill Yunsi for the crime of murdering the Prince Zi and Princess of Beixuan.
In his final moments, Yunsi uttered a heartfelt farewell to Aimaila, stating that he was now giving her his life, hoping she would cherish it as a gift of enduring love, peace, and happiness. He fought valiantly until he fell, tightly clutching the scimitar. A soldier soon reported to King Ling of Beixuan that two charred bodies had been discovered inside the building.
Li Xun entered, his gaze falling upon the hairpin and the distinct sword, causing a pang of sorrow as he mistakenly believed them to be Li Mingyue's and Li Qian's. He spoke to the silent bodies, reflecting on their lifelong rivalry for the position of the crowned prince. He admitted that if Qiao Huixin's affection had been for him, he would have willingly relinquished the throne to Li Qian.
He expressed no desire for Li Qian's death but lamented the many regrettable actions he had undertaken for Huixin's sake, which he now dared not regret. He wished they had simply been ordinary brothers, not born into the imperial family. Suddenly, a jarring realization struck him; the burnt corpse was considerably shorter than Li Qian. He quickly understood that Li Qian was still alive, yet knew that any future encounter would inevitably be a fight to the death.
With a heavy heart, Li Xun wished they would never meet again and ordered his troops to withdraw. From within the secret passage, Li Qian overheard Li Xun's emotional declaration. He gently embraced the weeping Li Mingyue, comforting her. Once the danger had passed, they emerged from the passage and searched for Yunsi. They soon discovered his lifeless body, riddled with arrows and lying in a pool of blood.
Li Mingyue collapsed onto him, sobbing uncontrollably as she noticed the small scimitar still clutched tightly in his hand. Li Qian held her close, sharing her grief. As cold winds swept and heavy snow fell, Li Qian and Li Mingyue stood before a newly erected tomb for Yunsi. Li Mingyue, still in tears, carved the inscription onto the stone. She then buried and re-excavated the small scimitar, clinging to it as she wept at the graveside. Li Qian held her tightly, offering solace in the desolate landscape.
Episode 31 Recap
Qiao Huixin, upon hearing that Li Qian has supposedly died at Yunsi's hands, collapses in sorrow. Li Xun attempts to comfort her, but she vehemently insists her sadness is not for Li Qian himself, but because he did not perish by her own hand. Li Xun tries to persuade her that with Li Qian dead and their long-standing feud settled, she can finally shed her hatred and live a life of carefree happiness, suggesting they start anew.
However, Qiao Huixin dismisses his words, telling him to leave so she can celebrate her enemy's demise throughout the night. The next morning, Li Qian awakens to discover Li Mingyue gone. He finds a letter from her in which she uses a Xiyue proverb, comparing a celestial Tian Mountain flower to lowly cow dung, to describe their vast social difference.
Li Mingyue states that because of her, he has been unable to be a proper prince and has been forced to endure hardships. Believing she is holding him back, she urges him to return to his princely life in Beixuan while she returns to her own humble existence, hoping he can live freely without her. Upon reading this, Li Qian immediately sets out to find her.
Meanwhile, Qiao Huixin prepares for suicide, toasting to Li Qian's supposed death and her own. Li Xun interrupts her, questioning why she is so devastated by Li Qian's death that she would follow him. Qiao Huixin explains that with her wish fulfilled, living feels no different from being a walking corpse. Li Xun then reveals that Li Qian might still be alive, explaining that the corpse found had a different body shape and was likely a substitute.
He speculates that Li Qian and Li Mingyue have likely fled far away, urging Qiao Huixin to let go. However, the revelation reignites Qiao Huixin's hope. She insists that since he is alive, she cannot let go and demands to begin a search. Seeing her unwavering resolve, Li Xun agrees to help her search for them the following day. That evening, Li Mingyue finds lodging at a shady inn.
Having run out of money, she offers to work in exchange for a room. She quickly identifies it as a "black shop" due to its amateurish secret codes and dismisses the obviously drugged wine. Despite her brave front, she finds herself constantly thinking of Li Qian, with memories triggered by simple objects like a painting or a red candle.
Unbeknownst to her, Li Qian is secretly watching her from outside, wondering why she chose to leave him if she missed him so deeply. Soon after, two of the inn's staff attempt to ambush Li Mingyue, but Li Qian quickly dispatches them. Inside, Li Mingyue attempts to hypnotize herself to forget Li Qian, believing it's better to endure short-term pain than prolonged suffering. However, she struggles to concentrate, especially as she becomes more intoxicated.
When Li Qian enters, a deeply inebriated Li Mingyue mistakes him for a vivid hallucination. She passionately embraces and kisses him, then repeatedly orders the "hallucination" to disappear, confessing that his presence causes her immense pain. She reveals she must forget him to prevent him from suffering a fate like Yunsi, whose death she blames on herself. Li Qian, confirming his reality, responds that his own heart would break from the pain if he were to leave her.
Overwhelmed, Li Mingyue finally succumbs to her intoxication and collapses onto the bed. The following morning, Li Mingyue wakes to find the inn's occupants gone. She then discovers Li Qian still by her side and immediately urges him to return to his life as a prince. Convinced that as long as he remembers her, he will never abandon her, she attempts to hypnotize him into forgetting all their memories together. Li Qian initially plays along, feigning amnesia.
However, he quickly embraces her, revealing his deception and stating that no matter how many times she tries to make him forget, he will simply fall in love with her again. He declares that she must never again attempt to leave his side. It is then that Li Mingyue notices his severe injuries and scolds him for being so foolish. As she cries, promising repeatedly that she will never leave him again, Li Qian collapses from his wounds.
Meanwhile, Song Jinyu arrives to inform Kangle and Sikong Zhen that King Ling has reported Li Qian's death, stating that both he and Li Mingyue were burned to ashes. Kangle vehemently refuses to believe this. Sikong Zhen calmly analyzes the situation, deducing that the burnt corpses must be decoys arranged by Yunsi to help Li Qian and Li Mingyue escape, as Yunsi would never have harmed Li Mingyue so brutally.
He concludes that they must be attempting to return to Xing'an to inform the Emperor about the border situation. Song Jinyu volunteers to search the city outskirts for them, while Kangle decides to stay and care for the injured Sikong Zhen. A doctor examines the collapsed Li Qian, diagnosing that his old wounds have reopened, leaving him severely weakened and at risk of not recovering without proper care. However, the doctor refuses to provide free medicine.
Unable to afford it, Li Mingyue diligently bandages Li Qian's wounds herself. As she works, she gazes admiringly at his face. Suspecting he is feigning unconsciousness, she teases him, threatening to "do something indecent" if he doesn't wake up. Li Qian then opens his eyes, revealing he was indeed awake, and playfully retorts that she was the one attempting to be indecent first.
Li Qian then gently reminds her not to push him away again and asks if she is truly willing to never return to Beixuan. Li Mingyue affirms her commitment, stating that if Beixuan has no place for him, it has no place for her either. Li Qian then sets his own conditions: she is forbidden from hypnotizing herself or him, because he does not want to forget her, and she must not forget him either.
This revelation makes Li Mingyue realize that her "hallucination" during her self-hypnosis attempt was, in fact, Li Qian's real presence. Embarrassed, she calls him a "lecherous and shameless prince," to which he playfully responds that "someone" seemed to enjoy it, teasing her further by asking if she wants him to make up for their "final regret."
Episode 32 Recap
Li Qian took out the precious saber Yunsi had given Li Mingyue, which she had pawned to get food and medicine for him. He urged her to keep it, reminding her to remember the friend who would risk his life for her. Embracing and laughing, they declared their goodbyes to their former identities as King Zi, Queen Zi, Xiyue, and Beixuan, shedding their past for a simpler future. Meanwhile, Qiao Huixin led a desperate search.
Her obsession with finding Li Qian was so profound that she imagined hearing his voice, though Li Xun, observing her, confirmed there was nothing to hear. Later that night, Li Mingyue found herself unable to sleep. Li Qian, who had crafted a new flute, offered to play a lullaby for her. Their playful banter about mosquitoes lightened the mood as Li Mingyue teased him to mimic a male mosquito's call and then playfully "bit" him.
The next morning, Li Mingyue woke to a delightful surprise: a stunning portrait of herself. Pleased, she kissed Li Qian. Seeking a "higher reward," Li Qian then revealed another gift—a secret room hidden within their unassuming inn. They playfully dared each other to enter, Li Qian teasing Li Mingyue about being scared while she retorted about his weight. Inside, they noted the thick dust, indicating the place hadn't seen much use.
Li Mingyue discovered a whip and playfully suggested new marital games, but Li Qian, feigning disapproval, confiscated it. He then found a hidden door leading to the backyard, where he had already set up a swing. As Li Mingyue swayed happily, Li Qian asked if it felt sweet or painful.
She confirmed the pain of a playful pinch, asserting the reality of their happiness, yet she admitted to a lingering fear that such perfect joy felt unreal and could disappear at any moment. Her fears proved prophetic. King Ling and Qiao Huixin's search party descended upon the inn, forcing Li Qian and Li Mingyue to hide in the secret room. Qiao Huixin noticed Li Qian's portrait and the freshly brewed tea, indicating their recent presence.
Li Xun then ordered guards to secure the inn while others surrounded the nearby forest. From their hiding spot, Li Qian suggested Li Mingyue escape through the back, but she defiantly insisted they fight together if discovered, a lack of strategy Li Qian found amusing. Qiao Huixin, enraged by signs of their presence, refused to use anything in the room and voiced her hatred, accusing Li Mingyue of instigating Li Qian to kill her father.
Li Xun tried to persuade Qiao Huixin to let go of her obsession, pointing out the simple happiness Li Qian and Li Mingyue had found and suggesting she could gain high status by returning to Xing'an with him. Li Mingyue, overhearing Qiao Huixin’s destructive behavior and accusations, cursed her. Still hidden, Li Qian realized from Li Xun's words that their father, the emperor, was likely unaware of their faked deaths and the search for them.
He then questioned Li Mingyue about Qiao Huixin's belief that he had killed Qiao Xuan. Li Mingyue revealed that Qiao Xuan was the true traitor who had committed suicide with Li Qian's sword to protect his family, a secret Li Qian had promised to keep, and Qiao Huixin had mistakenly witnessed the aftermath.
Meanwhile, Li Xun warned Qiao Huixin about the path she was on, emphasizing that a wrong turn could lead to irreversible ruin, especially if she were to kill Li Qian. Qiao Huixin, however, lashed back, accusing Li Xun of hypocrisy. She brought up his past cover-up of Madam Wang's framing of Zheng Fei and the burning of the palace, challenging him on how he would explain that to the emperor.
This accusation triggered a painful flashback for Li Qian: he remembered Madam Wang's chilling instructions to Li Xun to conceal the fire, followed by the tragic scene of his mother trapped in the flames while Li Xun desperately pulled a young Li Qian away. The truth struck Li Qian—it was Madam Wang, not Li Xun, who had caused his mother's death, and Li Xun had been protecting Madam Wang, explaining his fear of Li Qian regaining his memories.
He also realized Qiao Huixin was cruelly using this secret to manipulate Li Xun. Resolved to protect Li Mingyue, Li Qian decided he would break through the encirclement to distract the army. Before he could act, Li Mingyue pulled him close, requesting one last kiss. As they embraced, she used her hypnotic abilities to immobilize Li Qian, whispering that this time she would be the one to protect him.
She then slipped out through the secret door and was quickly apprehended by Li Xun's forces. Qiao Huixin, gleeful, demanded to know Li Qian's whereabouts. Li Mingyue, maintaining her composure, first taunted Qiao Huixin about her misguided pursuit of Li Qian, then claimed he was nearby hunting pheasants, inviting Qiao Huixin inside to wait. Li Xun, sensing a trick, warned Qiao Huixin to be cautious.
Li Mingyue then "accidentally" let slip that she hadn't spoken to anyone but Li Qian for three days, implying he had been gone, before quickly trying to correct herself. Qiao Huixin deduced that Li Qian might have headed for the palace. Li Xun, considering the possibility, mentioned that the emperor was likely unaware of Qiao Huixin's past collusion with Yunsi in kidnapping his second brother and framing Li Qian.
Li Mingyue further fueled the suspicion by hinting that King Ling might have been coerced into cooperation, suggesting Qiao Huixin had leverage over him. Enraged by these implications, Qiao Huixin threatened Li Mingyue's life, but Li Mingyue retorted that without her, Qiao Huixin would never find Li Qian. Amidst their tense exchange, Qiao Huixin challenged Li Mingyue's loyalty to Li Qian, questioning how she could believe he was innocent of her father's murder.
Li Mingyue, seizing the moment, finally revealed the truth: Qiao Xuan was the real traitor, and he had used Li Qian's sword to commit suicide, a secret Li Qian had agreed to keep to protect Qiao Xuan's family. Qiao Huixin refused to believe, accusing Li Mingyue of further deceit. Li Xun, realizing the chaos Li Qian could unleash if he returned to Xing'an, intervened.
He immediately ordered his troops to cease the search and return to the city, taking Li Mingyue captive. Bound, Li Mingyue was led away. That night, Li Qian finally broke free from his hypnotic trance. Discovering Li Mingyue's absence, he vowed to find her and stay by her side for the rest of his life.
Episode 33 Recap
Li Mingyue found herself bound to a pillar, a predicament that brought a smirk to Qiao Huixin's face. As Qiao Huixin pointed her sword at her, Li Mingyue immediately offered to confess everything without being asked. Qiao Huixin questioned Li Mingyue, demanding to know what was so special about her that Li Qian, despite knowing Qiao Huixin for ten years, ultimately chose Li Mingyue.
Li Mingyue sarcastically conceded Qiao Huixin's supposed beauty, knowledge, and long-standing acquaintance with Li Qian, then mockingly boasted about how Li Qian, who was rumored to be an "ugly man" before their diplomatic marriage, had fallen deeply for her. Qiao Huixin, enraged, accused Li Mingyue of using "magic." Li Mingyue corrected her, calling it "hypnotism," claiming it wasn't that powerful, otherwise, Li Qian wouldn't be so obsessed with her every night.
Qiao Huixin, calling Li Mingyue shameless, ordered guards to watch her and departed in a fury. Once alone, Li Mingyue managed to free herself from the ropes. Shortly after, Li Xun entered the room, attributing the day's misfortunes to Li Mingyue. Li Mingyue retorted, pointing out the irony: Qiao Huixin blamed her for not having Li Qian, and Li Xun blamed her for not winning Qiao Huixin's heart, making Li Mingyue feel "indispensable."
This hit a nerve with Li Xun, who grabbed her by the throat, declaring he had been driven to this desperate path step by step. Sensing his fear, Li Mingyue seized the opportunity to hypnotize him, instructing him to listen only to her voice. Under hypnotism, Li Xun's mind drifted back to a carefree childhood with Li Qian, a time when brothers were simply brothers.
He recalled the moment Qiao Huixin entered his life, reciting the poem, "Wild vine grass has morning dew on it. There is a beautiful girl. I fell in love with her at the first sight." Her smile left an unforgettable impression on him. Li Mingyue assured him that the happiness he yearned for had never truly left him, but he had become irrational due to his obsession with Qiao Huixin.
She pressed him, asking if he truly understood Qiao Huixin's desires. Li Xun responded that Qiao Huixin sought to kill Li Qian to avenge her father. When asked about his own desires, Li Xun confessed he only wanted Qiao Huixin's heart and her smile. Li Mingyue then revealed his inner conflict, telling him he did not truly wish to kill Li Qian or betray his true self.
Though Li Xun initially denied it, stating he only wanted Huixin, Li Mingyue asserted that he did know his true feelings. Li Xun acknowledged his suffering, internal struggle, and anxiety stemmed from consistently violating his own heart, believing everything he did was for Huixin and that he could not live without her. As Li Mingyue put down the Zhuxin Bell, Li Xun awakened, furious at being hypnotized and threatening Li Mingyue's life.
Li Mingyue calmly countered that while he could destroy everything, love could not be exchanged this way. She questioned if he had ever truly possessed Qiao Huixin's heart, despite marrying her. Li Mingyue cautioned him that if his love for Qiao Huixin amounted to infinite connivance, he was essentially pushing her into an abyss. She clarified that infatuation itself was not wrong, but blind indulgence was.
Li Mingyue asserted that Qiao Huixin was merely using Li Xun's identity to satisfy her own desire for revenge. She explained that Qiao Huixin's unwavering insistence on killing Li Qian, ostensibly for her father Qiao Xuan, who was a rebel and deserved his fate, was actually a way to vent her deep-seated resentment at never truly obtaining Li Qian's affection.
Li Mingyue warned that if Li Qian were to die, Qiao Huixin would not be able to live either, as her love had deteriorated into a destructive force, intent on destroying Li Qian, herself, and their already precarious marriage. Despite this, Li Xun insisted he loved Huixin and had no other choice. Li Mingyue implored him, stating that true love was protection, not blind obedience, and that only he could prevent Qiao Huixin, and himself, from falling into an abyss.
Li Xun, tears streaming down his face, agreed to stop everything. Meanwhile, Li Qian attempted to re-enter the city and was spotted by guards. Sikong Zhen skillfully rescued him, leading them to a secluded alley. An arrow then landed nearby, carrying a message from Li Xun, requesting a meeting at Luomei Pavilion at Sishi (between 9-11 AM).
Li Qian, wary of a potential trap, expressed concern to Sikong Zhen about Li Mingyue, revealing that she had risked her life for his escape and was now held by Li Xun and Qiao Huixin. Sikong Zhen reassured him that their true target was Li Qian himself. Li Qian arrived punctually at the Luomei Pavilion, and he and Li Xun immediately clashed, their swords pointing at each other.
Li Xun was the first to drop his weapon, acknowledging his profound guilt. He had come to inform Li Qian of Li Mingyue's whereabouts, explaining that love, hate, and fate, no matter how deeply etched, were ultimately just a fleeting dream in the passage of time. He offered to bear all the blame, pleading for Li Qian to spare Qiao Huixin and allow her to escape. Li Qian questioned his motives.
Li Xun admitted he knew Qiao Huixin had used his position as a prince since their marriage to achieve her aims, but he found himself unable to refuse her anything, willing to do everything she desired. Li Qian, acknowledging Li Xun's willingness to sacrifice everything for love, promised to spare Qiao Huixin's life if Li Mingyue was safe. Li Xun then revealed that Li Mingyue was hidden in Qiao's residence.
As a final request, Li Xun, appealing to their bond as brothers, asked to see Qiao Huixin one last time, a request Li Qian granted on the same basis of trust. Before their departure, Li Xun confessed his long-standing confusion as to why Li Qian had chosen Li Mingyue over Qiao Huixin, who had loved him deeply for years and, in Li Xun's estimation, surpassed Li Mingyue in appearance, knowledge, and affection.
He suggested that if Li Qian had shown Qiao Huixin even half the care he showed Li Mingyue, she would not have fallen to her current state. Li Qian explained that since his amnesia at age nine, his heart had been fractured like his lost memories. It was Li Mingyue who reawakened his deep feelings, helped him retrieve his lost memories, and guided him to confront his past self.
He stated that only with her did his heart feel complete, something Qiao Huixin was entirely unable to provide. Li Xun acknowledged that Li Qian's memories had returned, and Li Qian concluded by recognizing that his very life had been saved by Li Xun, a fact he now remembered with clarity. Li Qian deeply bowed to Li Xun, who then turned and walked away. Li Xun arrived to see Qiao Huixin for their last farewell.
She offered him a cup of hot tea, urging him to drink more to warm himself. As Li Xun drank, he recited the poem from their first encounter, remarking that the wind that day must have seen into his young heart, bringing her to him, and that her smile was etched in his memory forever.
Qiao Huixin's eyes welled up with tears as she touched her face, stating that only two things aged people in this world: hatred and love, and that she was no longer the innocent Huixin of their youth. Li Xun pleaded with her to abandon her path, offering to confess to the Emperor, bear all the blame, and flee with her far from Xing'an, never to return. However, Qiao Huixin's demeanor turned chilling.
She had poisoned his tea, revealing that she knew he had met Li Qian and that she would not spare anyone who had betrayed her. She implied that if Li Qian believed the information Li Xun provided, he would be walking to his death. Li Qian subsequently arrived at Qiao's residence to rescue Li Mingyue, only to discover Qiao Huixin bound in Li Mingyue's place. Li Qian was then captured.
Qiao Huixin had him brought before Li Mingyue, who was also held captive. Li Qian desperately cried out for Li Mingyue's release, offering his own life in exchange. Qiao Huixin, however, unbound him and presented him with a horrific choice: he could personally kill Li Mingyue, or they both would die together.
The two lovers gazed into each other's eyes, accepting their fate to die together, and made a heartfelt vow to reunite in the afterlife: if she became a flower, he would be the mud; if she became a fish, he would be the rivers and seas; if she became a bird, he would be a towering tree; and if she remained herself, he would marry her again to live as an ordinary couple. This profound declaration of their unbreakable bond only intensified Qiao Huixin's torment and rage.
Episode 34 Recap
Li Xun awakened on his couch, murmuring Qiao Huixin's name. He struggled to sit up, his body aching from injuries he now realized she had inflicted. He tremblingly picked up a letter from her, which instructed him to immediately enter the palace and inform the Emperor that she, Qiao Huixin, had conspired with Yunsi to kidnap Kaierbi and was responsible for Li Xun's injuries.
She wrote that this would ensure the Emperor protected him for the sake of the royal reputation, and that she would no longer be a burden to him. As Li Xun read, he noted her letter provided no indication of her own fate or Li Qian's. He realized her true objective had always been his life, not Li Qian's, whom she could have killed countless times if she had wished.
Meanwhile, Li Qian and Li Mingyue gazed at each other, tears streaming down their faces. Knowing Qiao Huixin truly wanted her dead, Li Mingyue used her hypnotic power to compel Li Qian to kill her, urging him to pierce her heart. Li Qian, however, resisted her hypnotic command, refusing to harm the one he loved.
In a desperate act of will, he brought his sword down not on Mingyue, but on the Zhuxin Bell, shattering it and causing himself to collapse from the strain. As Li Mingyue rushed to embrace Li Qian, an enraged Qiao Huixin cried out that if Li Mingyue did not die, they would all perish together. She then lunged forward with her sword, striking Li Mingyue. Seeing Li Mingyue fall, Qiao Huixin expressed a perverse satisfaction.
Since she could not win Li Qian's love, she resolved to make him hate her for a lifetime. Li Qian, however, fiercely dismissed her, declaring that in his heart, whether in love or hate, there would only ever be Li Mingyue. Unable to accept this, Qiao Huixin declared her intention to drag him to hell with her and lunged at him once more.
Just as her sword was about to strike, the newly arrived Li Xun intercepted the blow, taking the sword through his own body. Qiao Huixin, stunned, demanded to know why he had saved Li Qian. Li Xun, clutching his wound, clarified that he was not saving Li Qian, but her. He pleaded with her to let go of her hatred, revealing how much her cruelty pained him.
Qiao Huixin retorted that she did not need his pity and that he would never comprehend her hatred. With tears in his eyes, Li Xun acknowledged her pain of unrequited love, admitting his own was nothing compared to the agony that drove her to such extremes. Apologizing for failing to win her love, he desperately urged her to turn back, saying that only he could pull her from the abyss she had fallen into.
As Li Xun pulled the sword from his body, Qiao Huixin shrieked his name – a name he realized she had never called him before. She frantically tried to find help, forbidding him to die, but Li Xun accepted his fate willingly. He told her he sought no gratitude, only for her to awaken from her delusion and live well.
With his last breaths, he urged her to release her hatred and called out to Li Qian, who promised to honor his word. Li Xun's final words to Qiao Huixin were, "Husband can no longer accompany you." As he died, Qiao Huixin clutched his body, screaming his title. Guards rushed in, and Li Qian, heavy with grief, announced that Li Xun had died saving him.
He ordered a coffin prepared and, before leaving with the unconscious Li Mingyue, promised Qiao Huixin he would protect her life before the Emperor, as was Li Xun's dying wish. Left alone with Li Xun's body, Qiao Huixin wailed, acknowledging her complete defeat. Before the Emperor, Qiao Huixin confessed her crimes and asked that Li Xun's transgressions be forgiven.
The Emperor, filled with regret and rage, admitted his desire to execute her but refrained, unwilling to let the world believe a woman had manipulated Li Xun, thus staining his reputation. Instead, he sentenced her to lifelong imprisonment in a dark cell, never to see sunlight or speak to anyone again. When she begged to keep a memento of her husband, the Emperor harshly denied her, declaring she was unworthy before having her dragged away.
Meanwhile, Li Xun's mother, Shu Fei, was overwhelmed by her son's death and his final letter, which explained that the matter concerning Zheng Fei was the insurmountable barrier between them. Consumed by grief, she confessed everything to the Emperor: she was the one who prepared the abortion medicine for Wu Meiren and set the fire that killed her cousin, Zheng Fei, out of jealousy for the Emperor's affection.
The Emperor was aghast, realizing he had mistakenly protected the true culprit all these years. Shu Fei further revealed that Li Xun had thwarted her plot to kill Li Qian, and his years of emotional distance were not from a lack of love, but from his inability to forgive her crimes. She lamented that the world only knew of Li Xun's misdeeds, while he had secretly suffered, protecting both Li Qian and his sinful mother.
Declaring herself unworthy, she chose to separate from the heartbroken Emperor forever. In another part of the palace, doctors confirmed that while Li Mingyue's physical injuries were healing, she remained in a coma. Li Qian desperately tried everything to awaken her, even attempting to repair the shattered Zhuxin Bell, to no avail. Song Jinyu visited, finding his friend clutching a clay figurine, the only thing Mingyue had ever made for him. Kangle also arrived, insisting his presence might rouse her.
He noticed the figurine and mused that seeing it reunited with its missing counterpart might awaken Mingyue. Li Qian reacted sharply, stopping Kangle from touching it and stressing it was the only thing she had ever given him. Sensing Li Qian's fear that she might never recover, Song Jinyu vowed to support his friend. Soon after, a messenger arrived, summoning Li Qian to the royal study.
Episode 35 Recap
Summoned by the Emperor, Li Qian visited the palace, though he had grown estranged from the Emperor. The Emperor immediately inquired about Li Mingyue’s condition. Li Qian stated that the princess was unconscious and that he was unable to assist with imperial matters as he needed to return to care for her. The Emperor then apologized for his past misunderstanding of Li Qian and his mother, Zheng, admitting his fault and expressing his regret over losing Li Xun.
He pleaded with Li Qian not to lose him as well and asking for forgiveness. Li Qian, however, questioned why the Emperor, despite his deep love for Zheng, had failed to trust her during a critical incident, suggesting their love was fragile. The Emperor acknowledged his betrayal of Zheng, explaining that as the ruler, he had many concerns and was often misled.
He expressed deep remorse, stating that since Zheng could not return, all he could do was bestow an honorary title upon her to convey his sorrow. Li Qian dismissed this gesture as meaningless, believing it was merely for the Emperor’s own conscience. The Emperor was angered by Li Qian’s bluntness but ultimately conceded, admitting his wrongdoing. Before Li Qian could leave, the Emperor stopped him, asking him to visit the gravely ill Consort Shu.
He reminded Li Qian that she had raised him and was his aunt, suggesting he visit her as she grieved Li Xun’s death. Li Qian immediately challenged him, asking if the Emperor knew Consort Shu had harmed his mother and attempted to kill him.
The Emperor admitted he knew all of this but still insisted Li Qian visit, explaining that as Consort Shu’s husband and Li Qian’s father, he believed Li Qian was the only person she now cared for, implying that despite his hatred, Li Qian still held affection for her. Li Qian then raised the matter of Qiao Huixin, inquiring about her fate. The Emperor stated he would not kill her but would not let her off lightly.
Li Qian pleaded for Qiao Huixin, reminding the Emperor that Li Xun’s lifelong wish was to have her by his side, and that he had even sacrificed his life to save hers. He urged the Emperor to grant Qiao Huixin’s wishes for Li Xun’s sake, to which the Emperor agreed. Li Qian then went to visit Consort Shu, who acknowledged her sinful status and impending confinement to lonely chambers.
She stated he did not need to come, as she could no longer repay him. Li Qian clarified her misunderstanding, explaining that although his mother had died by her hand, Li Xun had saved him twice, and Consort Shu had raised him to adulthood, suggesting that perhaps she had already repaid her debts over the years.
Consort Shu confessed that while she had gained immense wealth and the Emperor’s exclusive favor throughout her life, she had lost the true honor of being a mother. She felt that in Li Xun’s eyes, she had been nothing more than a sinner for the past decade, and their mother-son bond had long extinguished with the fire.
Li Qian refuted this, revealing that Li Xun had secretly protected her for over ten years and, even when he knew they could not meet again, had left her a letter filled with deep affection, indicating that his love for his mother had never wavered. He urged her to live well, ensuring Li Xun’s years of protection were not in vain. Consort Shu questioned why she, the instigator, remained unharmed while her sister and child were gone.
Li Qian then departed, bidding her to take care. A servant later urged Li Qian, who had been guarding Li Mingyue all night, to rest. Qiao Huixin arrived at Prince Zi’s residence, but Li Qian refused to see her. Undeterred, Qiao Huixin spoke from outside the gate, announcing her departure to mourn her husband and expressing her special gratitude to Li Qian for interceding on her behalf with the Emperor.
She confessed that the entanglement between them was too deep for her to untangle, admitting that even at that moment, she still held feelings for him. However, she vowed to dedicate the rest of her life to loving Li Xun. She also stated that although she had forced her husband to his death and should have died herself, her life had been given by him, so she could not end it.
She instructed Li Qian that if he ever felt unhappy in the future, he only needed to inform her, and she would take her own life. Qiao Huixin expressed her hope that Li Mingyue would recover and that Li Qian’s choice would not be in vain, as otherwise her own life would be meaningless. She concluded that love debts were difficult to settle and wished for them never to meet again, urging them both to forget.
Though Li Qian did not see Qiao Huixin, his willingness to protect her implied his decision to relinquish the complex emotional debt. It was evident that while forgiveness was difficult, he had chosen to simply move on. As mealtime approached, Li Qian attempted to feed Li Mingyue, but she could not swallow anything. He continued to speak to her, mentioning that Tanli had made all her favorite foods daily.
He playfully warned that if Li Mingyue did not wake up, he would stop giving her delicious food and lamented that he was tired of drinking porridge. Tanli then brought more pastries, hoping the smell would tempt Li Mingyue to wake up.
Fifth Orange and Queyan observed Tanli’s unusual behavior, noting that she had not shed a single tear nor rested since Li Mingyue’s return, and was constantly remaking fresh food out of fear it would spoil before the princess woke. Both Fifth Orange and Queyan urged Tanli to rest and vent her emotions, reassuring her that she did not need to be strong in front of them.
Tanli, however, insisted she must remain vigilant and energetic in caring for the princess, believing her efforts might help Li Mingyue awaken. Overwhelmed, Tanli eventually broke down crying in Fifth Orange’s arms. Holding Li Mingyue’s hand, Li Qian spoke to her softly, reminding her of his promise to pick a flower and brew two teas for her upon her return, expressing his fear of breaking his word.
He wondered if her inability to return was due to fear of being hurt again. He assured her that Kaierbi was safe, and the misunderstanding between Xiyue and Beixuan had been resolved, with everything now peaceful and no more worries. He questioned if she no longer trusted his protection, pleading with her to return and express her anger by hitting or scolding him, but not to ignore him.
He reminded her that she had hypnotized him into loving her and could not be irresponsible. Meanwhile, at a restaurant, Sikong Zhen informed Song Jinyu that the Eighth Prince of Dongyue Kingdom had come to Beixuan to propose marriage to Kangle. Song Jinyu dismissed this, convinced it was drunken talk and that Kangle, known for her whip-wielding and unruly nature, would never find a suitor.
Sikong Zhen then revealed that Dongyue had sent not only a proposal letter but also two carts of gold and silver. Song Jinyu, surprised, commented on the Eighth Prince’s poor taste in women. Sikong Zhen then provocatively suggested that if Kangle truly refused the Eighth Prince, he himself would ask the Emperor for her hand, asserting that marrying him would be better than marrying into Dongyue, which greatly shocked Song Jinyu.
Later, Kangle eagerly questioned her servant about Song Jinyu’s reaction and if he had proposed to the Emperor for her. The servant reported that Sikong Zhen said Song Jinyu was nonchalantly listening to songs at a restaurant and showed no concern for Kangle’s marriage. Enraged, Kangle was then told by the servant that Sikong Zhen had a plan to make Song Jinyu speak up, which Kangle demanded to hear immediately.
The scene then shifted to Talan House, where Li Qian repeatedly called out for Li Mingyue, asking if she was there, seemingly lost in a daze, perhaps searching for her in his mind.
Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
As winter intensified, Li Mingyue remained in a deep slumber. Li Qian spent his days by her bedside, and one day, he found himself drawn into a dream. In this dream, Li Mingyue sat on a swing in Talan house, her hair completely white, telling him she had been waiting for a very long time.
Though Li Qian found her beautiful, he expressed a desire to bring her out of the dream, but she questioned why they should leave such a beautiful place and asked him to stay. Li Qian gently explained that while the dream world was pleasant, it was not where they truly belonged; he wished to share life and death with her, but not within a dream. He then pulled Li Mingyue closer, reminding her of their past.
He recalled the moment he let her leave him, advising her to take care on her long journey to Xiyue. He recounted their first encounter on the 18th day of the tenth lunar month in the Year of Gengyin, amidst Beixuan's first snow, and how he had chased her through the snow at the pavilion outside the city to bring her back. He had told her then that amidst the world's myriad splendors, she alone surpassed everything.
Li Qian described his anguish during her coma: sleepless nights, personally wiping the scimitar hanging by her bed, and filling the space under the bed with her favorite foods. He spoke of Tanli often crying softly outside her door and questioned who would share his joys and sorrows, or drink wine and enjoy the moon with him if she were gone. Li Mingyue was visibly moved by his words.
Li Mingyue then confessed that she had been in that dream world for so long that she had forgotten what the outside world looked like. She pointed out her hair, which was sometimes black and sometimes grey, and described her dream world as absurd and strange, a place she had grown accustomed to. She wondered how she could possibly return to reality.
Li Qian responded by saying that even though she was physically beside him, it felt as though they were separated by a thousand miles. He wished that this separation was merely his own dream, as he felt lost whether awake or drunk. He despairingly asked how he could grow old alone in such a state.
Overcome with emotion, Li Mingyue softly called out his name, then they shared a deep kiss, and as their lips met, Li Mingyue's hair miraculously turned back to its original black. The dream ended, and Li Mingyue awoke, finding Li Qian sound asleep beside her. She gently roused him, and they shared another tender kiss.
Li Mingyue described the long dream she had experienced, recounting how she met Li Qian in white on her first night in Beixuan when the snow began to fall, and how he had pushed her on the swing at Talan house, and later sought her out. Li Qian realized with astonishment that they had shared the exact same dream.
They embraced tightly, and Li Qian, in a heartfelt command, declared that from that moment on, she was not to leave his sight for even half a step, threatening to be "mean" to her if she dared to harbor thoughts of leaving again. Li Mingyue, in turn, vowed that she no longer wished to leave the house, Tanli, or Kangle. Meanwhile, Song Jinyu remarked to Sikong Zhen that Kangle had been unusually quiet lately.
Sikong Zhen acknowledged it, mentioning that he, too, found it odd, as he was unaccustomed to the freedom of visiting brothels without Kangle following him. Queyan then chimed in, revealing that Princess Kangle was preparing for her marriage in the palace, and news had arrived that the Emperor intended to marry her to the Eighth Prince of Dongyue, with the wedding set to happen soon.
Song Jinyu was initially incredulous, recalling how he had previously joked to Sikong Zhen that even if all the princesses in the world were married, it would never be Kangle’s turn. Sikong Zhen advised Song Jinyu that Kangle's past assertiveness might have made him complacent, and if he didn't act, she might genuinely leave him, urging him to express his feelings before it was too late.
Panicked, Song Jinyu rushed into the royal study, where the Emperor was discussing the completion of a canal to Yangzhou with an eunuch. Song Jinyu immediately knelt, tearfully admitting his past foolishness and begging the Emperor not to marry Princess Kangle to the Eighth Prince, insisting that he and Kangle were in love. The eunuch, confused, clarified that the Emperor had not been discussing any royal marriage. The Emperor, irritated by Song Jinyu's nonsensical rambling, demanded he leave.
Song Jinyu stumbled out of the study, only to find Kangle and Sikong Zhen laughing nearby. Kangle gleefully admitted that she had teamed up with Sikong Zhen to trick him, mocking his earlier dismissive attitude towards her. Song Jinyu tried to deny his previous statements, but Kangle, playful, grabbed him, declaring he could no longer escape her.
Back at the house, Li Qian had become obsessed with practicing hypnotism with his transformed Zhuxin Bell, which he claimed had significantly increased his power. He spent hours trying to hypnotize people, causing them to scatter and avoid him. Li Qian explained that while he understood his duties, the country was at peace, and he saw no harm in exploring the wonders of his wife's hometown during his leisure time. However, others remarked that he was becoming "obsessed."
Queyan was seen hastily fleeing, presumably having been one of Li Qian's recent subjects. Li Qian confidently stated that with the Zhuxin Bell, his hypnosis was now foolproof. He even tried to hypnotize Song Jinyu, who, along with Sikong Zhen, pretended to fall under his spell. Li Qian commanded Song Jinyu to give him a specific painting by Wu Tianlin, then directed Sikong Zhen to take Song Jinyu to Kangle.
However, Li Qian soon realized that Sikong Zhen had not been hypnotized. Later, Li Qian, observing Li Mingyue enjoying snacks, decided to try his hypnotism on her. He commanded her to hear only his voice, then to fall into his arms, love him, and kiss him. Li Mingyue then playfully questioned if love obtained through hypnotism was truly real. Li Qian confidently affirmed that it was "absolutely real." Despite his hypnotism failing to affect her, Li Mingyue smiled, willingly leaned into his arms, and they shared a deep, loving kiss.
