The Sleepless Princess Episode 12 Recap
> The Sleepless Princess Recap
At Fan House, Xue Yao confessed to Bai Liqi that he felt a pair of eyes constantly watching them, sensing a deeper complexity to the establishment than its outward appearance suggested. Bai Liqi dismissed his concerns, attributing Xue Yao’s heightened vigilance to his years stationed at the border, arguing that a pleasure house would naturally attract attention. Unknown to them, Xue Yao's instincts were correct, as Xu Xingchen, concealed nearby, was closely observing his every move.
Surprised to see the notoriously aloof General Xue at a brothel, Xu Xingchen saw an opportunity to expose his "good brother-in-law's" true nature to Chu Yue. He instructed the courtesans that whoever served Xue Yao best would be crowned Fan House's top courtesan, revealing himself as the brothel's secret owner. Meanwhile, Chu Yue spotted Xue Yao’s horse outside Fan House and, fearing he would be "taken away by those hungry women," decided to intervene.
She instructed her attendant, Tao Yao, to cover for her with Madam Xue. Noticing a recruitment sign for footboys, Chu Yue disguised herself as a young man to gain entry. Elsewhere in Fan House, Su Nannan arrived, planning to intimidate Xue Yao with a prank inspired by her aunt, Imperial Consort Su. Her maid, Xiaodao, voiced concerns about being seen, but Su Nannan was confident in the security of their private room.
She planned to startle Xue Yao by opening the door and pretending to disrobe. However, when the door opened, it was not Xue Yao but Luo Ji who entered. Startled, Su Nannan fled through a window, inadvertently leaving her purse behind. Disguised as a footboy, Chu Yue was tasked with delivering wine. She watched as Xue Yao and his companions were enthusiastically escorted by courtesans to Liangyuan, an exclusive area of Fan House.
The grand reception made Xue Yao suspect they had attracted the attention of a significant figure within the establishment. Chu Yue followed and grew enraged seeing Xue Yao surrounded by beautiful women. Just then, Xue Yao noticed someone at the door. Thinking it was the owner, he was stunned to discover it was Chu Yue. Xue Yao pulled Chu Yue aside, chastising her for her unseemly and ambiguous disguise and accusing her of seeking grounds for a divorce.
Chu Yue retorted, questioning why he was permitted to seek pleasure while she was forbidden from "broadening her horizons," and defiantly sat down at his table. Recognizing a courtesan's hairstyle from a prophetic dream, Chu Yue suspected the wine was drugged and realized Xue Yao was being set up. She knocked the wine cup from his hand and, to deter the women, offered a legendary luminous pearl to the head courtesan on the condition that she attend only to her.
She then used gold to bribe the other women to serve her exclusively, ordering them to stay away from Xue Yao and his friends. Forced to leave, Xue Yao deduced the owner had orchestrated the events and was likely watching them. He split his group into three to search the premises.
Meanwhile, Xu Xingchen learned of the search and grew concerned that his private business might be exposed to the Emperor, which could arouse unnecessary suspicion, but he dismissed the fear, confident he was beyond the Emperor's reach. Chu Yue escaped the room and unexpectedly ran into Xu Xingchen, who pulled her into another room to hide.
He admonished her for treating the birthstone so carelessly, reminding her that its dangerous power was connected to their father's death and stressing his concern for her life. Chu Yue apologized, promising not to be so reckless again. Just as Xue Yao approached their hiding spot, Xu Xingchen concealed himself in a cupboard. To protect her brother, Chu Yue pinned a surprised Xue Yao against the wall and kissed him as a distraction.
As Xue Yao broke free, demanding to know who she was so desperately protecting, Xu Xingchen escaped. Though Xue Yao didn't see him, he found a jade pendant on the floor identical to Chu Yue’s. On the carriage ride home, Chu Yue explained the wine had been drugged, but Xue Yao demanded proof, which she couldn't provide without revealing her dreams.
He accused her of protecting the man in the cupboard, and she defiantly admitted to kissing and lying to him. Angered, Xue Yao pretended to throw the jade pendant out of the carriage. Chu Yue impulsively jumped out to find it, spraining her ankle. Though still furious, Xue Yao extended his sword to help her walk.
Chu Yue offered to reveal the pendant's owner if he promised not to tell the Emperor, but Xue Yao refused, vowing to find out himself. Acting on Chu Yue's dream, Xu Xingchen questioned the courtesan, Jie Luoshan, who swore she had not put anything in the wine. When his attendant confirmed the wine was normal, Xu Xingchen realized Chu Yue's prophecy had not been fully averted and that Xue Yao remained in danger.
That night, Chu Yue again shared a room with Xue Yao. Unable to sleep, he went to the courtyard to water flowers. She followed, claiming she couldn't sleep without him. Gazing at the recovered jade pendant, she recalled her childhood in the Cold Palace. She remembered an imperial consort's comforting voice urging her and Xu Xingchen to always support each other through hardship. The memory of their childhood promises brought tears to her eyes.
