The Love by Hypnotic Episode 19 Recap
> The Love by Hypnotic 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.
