The Love by Hypnotic Episode 33 Recap
> The Love by Hypnotic 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.
