The Love by Hypnotic Episode 28 Recap
> The Love by Hypnotic 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.
