The Sleepless Princess Episode 17 Recap
> The Sleepless Princess Recap
A mysterious figure, speaking to an unconscious woman named Xue'er, promises to show her the world when she awakens. He receives a report that Xue Yao has gone to mourn Xue Mu, confirming their prediction that Xue Yao suspects the Emperor was behind his brother's death. Learning that Xue Yao plans to take Princess Chu Yue out of the palace for her birthday, the figure recognizes this as a perfect opportunity and dispatches his assassins to abduct the princess.
Meanwhile, Xue Yao arrives at Jinque Palace with a grand eight-sedan chair procession to escort Chu Yue. The palace staff, unaccustomed to such attention, look on with envy. Xue Yao is moved when he sees Chu Yue looking radiant in the clothes he sent her. At the sword hall, Su Nuan is training her fellow disciples when her master introduces a new disciple, Luo Ji.
The master instructs Su Nuan to teach Luo Ji a sword technique, much to her annoyance. During their practice, Luo Ji tries to apologize for a past incident, but Su Nuan dismisses him. She confesses she only practiced martial arts to please Xue Yao, but now that he has abandoned her for the princess, she has lost her motivation. Impressed by her devotion, Luo Ji expresses his admiration. Later, Chu Yue celebrates her birthday by distributing money to the public.
Seeing Xue Yao doting on Chu Yue, a heartbroken Su Nuan is approached by Luo Ji. He tells her that if Xue Yao doesn't want her, he does, earning a slap in the face. Su Nuan tearfully recounts her childhood with Xue Yao and how she prayed for his return from war, only for him to marry the princess. Luo Ji suggests she is not fighting for Xue Yao, but for an obsession, which she angrily denies.
During the journey, Chu Yue questions the excessive fanfare, but Xue Yao explains it's to compensate for her being unconscious during their wedding and to uphold the Xue family's honor. In truth, Xue Yao is using Chu Yue as a decoy and meticulously scans their surroundings for threats.
Bai Liqi worries that Xue Yao's close proximity to the princess will deter the assassins, but Xue Yao assures him that the guards will be withdrawn once they reach their destination, Lingxi Garden. Upon arriving, Chu Yue is enchanted by the beautiful estate. Xue Yao explains that he acquired it from a Beize nobleman whose family he rescued, and he now gifts it to her.
Bai Liqi accidentally reveals that Xue Yao has also prepared a grand fireworks display for her. Touched but wary of his excessive kindness, Chu Yue senses something is amiss. Unbeknownst to her, Xue Yao chose the secluded, mountain-flanked garden to lure the assassins, planning to use the fireworks as a distraction to lower his guard and create an opening for them to strike.
At the same time, the mysterious figure and his commander, Tang Ben, finalize their own plan to use the noise from the fireworks to cover their abduction of Chu Yue. As she waits for the fireworks, Chu Yue rehearses her plan to confess her feelings to Xue Yao and void their divorce agreement. Her rehearsal is interrupted by Su Nuan, who arrives wearing an identical gown to spite her. As they argue, the assassins attack.
Confused by the two identically dressed women, the lead assassin orders both to be captured. Su Nuan fights back bravely. In the ensuing chaos, Chu Yue, in a panicked attempt to escape, swaps clothes with a fallen assassin. She tries to blend in but is inadvertently herded away with the retreating attackers. Realizing Chu Yue is in greater danger, Su Nuan tells her to run and get help while she holds off the enemy.
Xue Yao soon discovers Chu Yue is missing. Finding her gown discarded, he deduces she attempted a "golden cicada" escape strategy and was mistakenly carried off by the assassins. He immediately sends Bai Liqi to mobilize a full-scale search. Just then, an enraged Xu Xingchen arrives, blaming Xue Yao for failing to protect Chu Yue. He challenges Xue Yao to a bet: whoever finds Chu Yue first gets to take her away from the Xue mansion forever. Xue Yao accepts.
As the assassins flee, their leader takes a moment to tend to his injured men. During a headcount, they discover an extra person in their ranks—the disguised Chu Yue. Her identity revealed, she is quickly bound. Xue Yao and Xu Xingchen finally catch up, leading to a tense standoff. The assassin leader holds Chu Yue hostage, threatening her life. Xue Yao demands to know their motive for abducting her. The leader remarks on Xue Yao's striking resemblance to his brother before cryptically asking if he is curious about the true circumstances of Xue Mu's death.
