The Love by Hypnotic Episode 7 Recap
> The Love by Hypnotic Recap
Li Mingyue woke from a distressing dream where Li Qian, provoked by her friendship with Sikong Zhen, intended to divorce her. Disturbed by the omen, she vowed not to passively await her fate. Shortly after, a forged letter, supposedly from Princess Kangle, arrived, inviting Li Mingyue to Qihe Pavilion on Baiyun Mountain that afternoon. Believing the invitation to be real, Li Mingyue decided to use the trip to visit a temple and get a protective charm.
Despite Tanli's concerns about upsetting Li Qian, Li Mingyue insisted, leaving Tanli behind to cover for her absence. The next day, the real Kangle arrived at the mansion looking for Li Mingyue. Tanli tried to cover for her, claiming she was resting due to a cold. However, when Kangle denied writing the letter, Tanli realized they had been tricked and rushed to inform Li Qian.
He had already received intelligence that rebel remnants were gathering at Baiyun Mountain that day and immediately prepared to ride out. Meanwhile, King Ling had orchestrated the entire trap, sending a small force to the mountain not just to eliminate the rebels, but primarily to frame Li Mingyue by associating her with them. Unaware of the danger, Li Mingyue arrived at a desolate courtyard on Baiyun Mountain.
Still thinking Kangle was playing a prank, she went inside, only to overhear rebels plotting to use the Xuan River diversion project to destabilize the state and assassinate the Emperor. They quickly captured her, and upon finding a royal hairpin she carried, realized her high-ranking status. Just as they did, King Ling's forces attacked. In the ensuing chaos, a knockout incense was released, causing Li Mingyue to fall unconscious. When Li Qian arrived, he found the hideout ablaze.
Overcoming his profound fear of fire, he charged into the inferno to save Li Mingyue, sustaining burns in the process. The act of bravery led him to a powerful realization: true love meant being willing to face anything, even a sea of fire, for the one he cared about. Afterward, King Ling’s subordinate reported that Li Qian had unexpectedly rescued Li Mingyue.
The subordinate presented the golden hairpin she had dropped, confident it could be used as evidence to link her to the rebels. King Ling ordered him to present it to the Emperor the next day. Meanwhile, after ensuring Li Mingyue was safe, Li Qian met with Sikong Zhen. Deducing that King Ling was behind the plot, Li Qian planned to turn the scheme back on him.
Sikong Zhen congratulated him, noting that his love for Li Mingyue seemed to be curing him of his pyobia. Just then, a newly awakened Li Mingyue entered to thank Li Qian for saving her life. He feigned indifference, but when she noticed his injuries and tried to approach, he brusquely told her to leave. As she turned to go, she stumbled, and Li Qian instinctively caught her in his arms.
The following day in court, the Emperor praised King Ling and General Fang for quashing the rebels. General Fang then presented the golden hairpin, claiming it was found at the rebel hideout and implying Li Mingyue's involvement. The Emperor recognized it as a wedding gift from his consort, Madam Shu. At that moment, Li Qian arrived and calmly refuted the accusation, stating that Li Mingyue had been with Princess Kangle in the palace the entire previous day.
Palace guards and Kangle's personal maid were summoned, and both confirmed Li Qian’s alibi, which he had meticulously arranged the day before. Seeing through the frame-up, the Emperor simply instructed Li Qian to take back the hairpin and to strengthen his wife's security. Li Qian then impressed the Emperor by reporting that the agreements for the Xuan River diversion project had all been signed.
Later, Li Mingyue received a letter from her second brother, the Beixuan Emperor, who invited Li Qian to Beixuan to discuss trade relations. While praising her as a hero of her homeland, the letter also pressured her, implying that failing to secure King Zi’s favor would make her a traitor to her people. Tanli suggested the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Intrigued, Li Mingyue decided to discover Li Qian’s favorite food.
Feigning concern for his injuries, she offered him tea and used her hypnotic bell. Under her influence, Li Qian dreamt of his childhood, where his mother gave him a special homemade white jade osmanthus cake that was unusually salty and hard. Having learned his secret, Li Mingyue recreated the cake and brought it to Li Qian and Sikong Zhen. Li Qian, maintaining his aloofness, initially refused the "sweet" snack.
However, when Li Mingyue pointed out that the servants were watching, he relented and took a bite, finding the salty, hard cake to be uniquely nostalgic. Frustrated by his cold reception, Li Mingyue later complained to Tanli. Kangle overheard and offered her own advice, dismissing the idea of pleasing a man with food. She advocated for "training" men, comparing them to cats that could be made docile. Li Mingyue rejected this, preferring a relationship of equals.
Kangle then suggested that to build a real bond, they needed to spend time together outside the mansion—visiting markets, dining out, and having fun. Li Mingyue eagerly agreed, finding the idea of shared enjoyment far more appealing than manipulation.
