The Love by Hypnotic Episode 20 Recap
> The Love by Hypnotic 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.
