The Sleepless Princess Episode 13 Recap
> The Sleepless Princess Recap
Following his return from Fan House, Xue Yao found Chu Yue in tears. She deflected his questions by asking who he wanted to protect. Xue Yao stated his lifelong ambition to safeguard the people of Nansang, prompting Chu Yue to confess her desire to protect the person she had hidden in the cabinet. She lamented that she lacked Su Nannan's martial arts skills but still felt compelled to prevent those she cared about from being implicated.
Xue Yao, however, had already deduced that the person Chu Yue was so determined to protect was Xu Xingchen. Chu Yue nervously denied this, asserting that a man of Xu Xingchen's integrity would never frequent a place like Fan House. Later, while bathing to wash off the "Fan House smell," Chu Yue expressed her belief that she had successfully altered her dream.
She recalled that the woman from her vision had a similar build and the same distinctive "flying bun" hairstyle as a courtesan at Fan House who had caused a significant stir by continuously plying Xue Yao with drinks. Tao Yao gravely reminded Chu Yue that she had now used up another chance, leaving her with only one last opportunity before the birthstone’s power would turn her into a "living dead."
Despite the danger, Chu Yue remained optimistic, believing she only needed to leave the Xue mansion before her final transformation. Tao Yao, however, felt a deep sense of failure, fearing she had not adequately protected the princess and would be unworthy of facing Chu Yue's guardian in the afterlife. Meanwhile, Luo Ji arrived at the Su residence to return a sachet to Su Nannan.
Angered by his audacity but warned by her servant, Xiaodao, about the potential scandal, Su Nannan reluctantly agreed to meet him. Wearing a veil, she also disguised her face with makeup to appear pockmarked, hoping her perceived ugliness would deter him. However, Luo Ji insisted on taking responsibility since he had seen her unclothed. He confessed that if she were beautiful, he would have felt unworthy, but with her "pockmarked face," he felt they were a perfect match.
Infuriated, Su Nannan declared that her heart already belonged to Nansang's God of War, Xue Yao. Recognizing the name, Luo Ji shared that Xue Yao loved to eat Qingtuan, a dish his family stopped making after his parents’ death. Su Nannan abruptly dismissed Luo Ji, threatening him with violence if he ever mentioned their encounter again.
Chu Yue later visited a bookstore, and the shopkeeper, noticing her married hairstyle, recommended a discreet book on marital intimacy, which she began to read with interest. Tao Yao soon arrived to inform Chu Yue that Old Lady Xue had gathered everyone for dinner and was waiting for her, and they promptly returned to the Xue mansion. During dinner, Old Lady Xue expressed concern that Chu Yue, having been married for some time, had not yet conceived.
Emphasizing her wish for an heir to the Xue family, she praised Su Nannan's strong constitution as a good match for Xue Yao. Xue Yao swiftly reassured his aunt that his relationship with Chu Yue was strong and they were not in a hurry to have children. Chu Yue echoed his sentiments, and they presented a united facade of affection before Chu Yue excused herself.
Believing Chu Yue would soon seek his help to leave the mansion, Xu Xingchen instructed his subordinate to monitor her. Shortly after, a messenger informed him that Xue Yao had arrived at Liangyuan with information about his jade pendant. At their meeting, Xue Yao revealed he had investigated Chu Yue's dowry and discovered her lifestyle surpassed that of an orthodox princess.
He concluded that only Xu Xingchen, with his immense wealth, could afford such lavishness by secretly operating ventures like Fan House and Panxiang Court. Xu Xingchen admitted this, explaining he was determined to ensure Chu Yue, who was never favored as a child, would never suffer again. In turn, Xue Yao assured him that as long as Chu Yue remained sincere, he would never betray her.
Xue Yao then explained he was investigating a case involving "Liuyunfeixue" purchased from Panxiang Court and needed to examine their account ledgers. Xu Xingchen agreed on one condition: that Chu Yue, who was weak and suffering from insomnia, undergo a three-day secluded treatment based on a new prescription. Xue Yao consented, promising to retrieve Chu Yue after her recovery. While they were at Panxiang Court, several mysterious assassins appeared, stole the ledgers, and fled.
The incident made Xue Yao more certain than ever that his brother's death was connected to them. He noted the assassins smelled strongly of "daughter incense," a potent fragrance from Panxiang Court, which he intended to use as a crucial clue. A subordinate later reported to Xu Xingchen that they had successfully secured the ledgers and that Xue Yao now suspected Xue Mu's death was not a simple accident.
Xu Xingchen, feigning indifference, dismissed the notion that Xue Yao could uncover the truth. Deeply concerned, Tao Yao informed Xu Xingchen that Chu Yue had only one transformation opportunity left. Fearing Chu Yue's optimism was misplaced, she investigated Fan House herself and discovered the wine from that night had not been drugged. Realizing the dream had not been broken, Tao Yao decided to ensure it came true by acquiring an aphrodisiac to use on Xue Yao.
To capture Xue Yao’s attention, Su Nannan adopted the "flying bun" hairstyle of the Fan House courtesans. When Xu Xingchen arrived at the Xue mansion, he saw her hair and instantly realized she was the woman from Chu Yue's dream, the one destined to help the princess sever her emotional ties to Xue Yao and become carefree and happy.
Tao Yao cunningly placed the aphrodisiac into two drinks: one in the plum wine for Xue Yao and Chu Yue's lunch, and another in the tea for Su Nannan. Her goal was to orchestrate a situation where Xue Yao and Su Nannan would be affected, thereby fulfilling the dream's prediction. Though initially hesitant to dine with Xue Yao, Chu Yue was persuaded by Tao Yao and agreed.
During their lunch, Chu Yue attempted to reconcile with Xue Yao, but he spoke cryptically about trust, alluding to her secrets. Chu Yue defended her right to privacy. Their tense meal was interrupted by Su Nannan, who offered Xue Yao the Qingtuan she had prepared. He gently rejected her, explaining that the dish reminded him of his deceased family and that he had only ever seen her as a sister.
Later, Chu Yue confided in Xu Xingchen, admitting her fear that Xue Yao suspected her secrets and her growing, conflicted feelings for the general. Xu Xingchen then asked if she would hate him for taking actions that might harm Xue Yao. Chu Yue advised him to follow his heart, revealing she knew of the "bitter trick" he had orchestrated in the military to gain the emperor's trust.
To toast to his ambitions, they drank the plum wine Tao Yao had prepared. Soon after, both were overcome with an intense heat, and Xu Xingchen realized with horror that they had not triggered a transformation, but had both ingested a potent aphrodisiac.
