The Love by Hypnotic Episode 2 Recap
> The Love by Hypnotic 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.
