The Love by Hypnotic Episode 6 Recap
> The Love by Hypnotic Recap
Believing she had insights into King Zi's mysterious illness from Li Mingyue, Qiao Huixin hoped to alleviate his condition and rekindle their past connection. She procured a lantern and waited at a market until King Zi arrived. She asked if he remembered the story of the lantern, but he claimed to have forgotten.
Qiao Huixin recounted their youth, describing how he was a reserved and subtle boy, often bullied by other princes, and how she had gifted him the lantern to bring him comfort. Hearing these descriptions, King Zi was struck by their resonance with the timid boy from his dreams. He pressed her for more details, asking if the incident occurred when he was in a "sea of fire."
While Qiao Huixin could not confirm the fire, she affirmed it happened before his amnesia, leading him to conclude that the boy in his dreams was indeed his past self. Qiao Huixin then confessed her unwavering devotion, but King Zi did not reciprocate, returning the lantern before leaving. Upon his return, King Zi found Li Mingyue pretending to copy scriptures. He sarcastically noted her lack of progress and declared she would have to copy them day and night.
Incensed, Li Mingyue retorted that he had violated their contract first by entering her room, and she laid down four demands: no more forced scripture copying, secrecy about his arm injury, no more entering her room, and hiring a chef skilled in Xiyue cuisine. To her astonishment, King Zi readily agreed.
He then led Li Mingyue to a pond to feed fish, explaining that fish have short memories, much like a person who cannot face the future if they forget their past. He revealed that a sudden illness at age nine erased his memories, and it was only through her hypnosis that he began to recall a younger, unfamiliar version of himself.
Convinced the timid boy in his dreams was his past, he confessed that he agreed to her demands in exchange for her help in recovering his lost memories. Li Mingyue confidently assured him that inducing dreams to recover memories was her specialty. Li Mingyue initiated the hypnosis with her Zhuxin Bell. In the dream, King Zi found himself trapped in a terrifying fire, being dragged by someone whose face gradually resolved into that of his brother, Li Xun.
Upon waking, King Zi confirmed Li Xun was the one holding him back. He connected the fire to his amnesia, recalling that the battle for succession was fierce at the time, and after he fell ill and lost his memory, his mother also passed away suddenly. He vowed to keep his partial memory recovery a secret, declaring that if Li Xun was responsible, he would make him pay.
Meanwhile, news arrived that the Emperor was seeking someone to supervise the Xuanhe River diversion project, a task complicated by locals refusing to relocate. Sikong Zhen presented a copy of a painting from a village ancestral temple, suggesting it could be a tool to persuade the populace. Elsewhere, Princess Kangle, with Li Mingyue, finally cornered Song Jinyu at King Zi's residence.
She angrily confronted him for booking the Wanhua brothel for his birthday and getting a token from the head courtesan, forgetting his promise to her. King Zi interceded, helping Song Jinyu escape by telling Kangle to go home and study. As Song Jinyu left, he thanked King Zi, and Li Mingyue noted that King Zi now owed her a favor.
That night, King Zi sleepwalked again, and Li Mingyue playfully hit him with her slingshot, causing him to collapse onto his bed. The next morning, King Zi told Sikong Zhen he woke up with a new wound, suspecting Li Mingyue. Sikong Zhen teased him, pointing out that King Zi’s constant talk of Li Mingyue and his jealousy were signs of his affection. King Zi vehemently denied it, claiming he was only annoyed by her.
To prove his indifference, he declared he would ignore her completely, even if she were in danger. Concurrently, King Ling learned that the Emperor had assigned the Xuanhe project to King Zi. Deducing that King Zi's investigation into the palace fire from thirteen years ago must be linked to Li Mingyue's bracelet, King Ling also received intelligence that rebel forces would gather at Baiyun Mountain and ordered a letter to be sent to King Zi’s residence.
To enforce his feigned indifference, King Zi ordered his household not to mention Li Mingyue by name, using a cough instead. Annoyed by the sudden cold shoulder, Li Mingyue complained to Sikong Zhen, who gave her a Persian kite. As they flew it, King Zi watched from his room, visibly irritated. The kite got stuck in a tree, and as Li Mingyue climbed to retrieve it, she slipped and fell into Sikong Zhen's arms.
King Zi rushed out, pulled them apart, and in a flustered move, grabbed Sikong Zhen while warning Li Mingyue to stay away from his friend. Amused, Sikong Zhen openly teased King Zi, stating his actions revealed his true feelings. Frustrated by the accusation, King Zi asked why he had to prove his dislike, prompting Sikong Zhen to ask if he was trying to convince him or himself.
Infuriated, King Zi produced a divorce paper, falsely claiming his heart belonged to someone else and their contract was void. He ordered her to pack and return to Xiyue within a day, leaving Li Mingyue stunned.
