The Sleepless Princess Episode 22 Recap
> The Sleepless Princess Recap
Xue Yao appeared in the Jinque Palace, where Xingchen confronted him, asserting that he was no longer Chu Yue's husband and vowing to ensure his sister had a glorious wedding. As they exchanged sharp words and began to fight, Chu Yue intervened. She stated that all had been said between her and Xue Yao, and from that moment forward, they would be strangers, urging him to pursue his own desires.
Watching her leave, Xue Yao reflected on how Chu Yue had always chosen to stay by his side in the past, but this time she was different, leading him to believe he no longer needed to consider her. Meanwhile, the Emperor reprimanded Consort Su for independently seeking a new spouse for Chu Yue, especially the elderly General Tu, a man with one foot in the grave.
He accused Consort Su of acting wildly and abusing his favor, and immediately ordered Eunuch Gao to summon Chu Yue to the Imperial Study. Xingchen, sensing Chu Yue still harbored feelings for Xue Yao, questioned her reasons for the divorce. Chu Yue revealed her true motive: she suspected the Emperor already knew the birthstone was within her and had used Consort Su to test her father's reaction.
The attempt failed to confirm the Emperor's knowledge but instead revealed Xingchen's own deep concern for her. Agreeing that her suspicions about their father were likely correct and fearing for her safety, Xingchen resolved to return to his mansion to prepare to take her out of the palace the next morning. Later, Chu Yue was escorted to meet the Emperor, who offered her a bowl of cubilose.
The Emperor revealed he knew everything, explaining that it was Chu Yue's mission to inherit her biological father's legacy of prediction and share the Emperor's burdens. He acknowledged her skill in hiding the birthstone for so long and cited Xizhao's recent discovery of Dark Steel Ore as a threat. He commanded Chu Yue to drink the cubilose and use the birthstone for a prediction regarding Xizhao's potential for rebellion.
Heartbroken, Chu Yue obeyed, lamenting that her father only saw her as a tool. That night, Xue Yao set a trap for assassins in the palace. As he engaged an intruder, Tao Yao rushed to him, disrupting the plan and allowing the assassins to escape. She urged him to save Chu Yue immediately, explaining that the Emperor knew about her ability and was forcing her to prophesize during a forbidden time.
Tao Yao revealed that this was Chu Yue's final chance; using it would turn her into a living dead. She also clarified that Chu Yue had already used one chance to save Xue Yao from a poisonous aphrodisiac, proving her earlier warnings had been true. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Xue Yao ordered his guards to seal Chu Yue's room until dawn and rushed to her side.
As Chu Yue drifted into a prophetic dream filled with visions of a war-torn future, a voice warned her not to touch the birthstone. Xue Yao desperately tried to wake her. Amidst the chaos, a mysterious figure entered the room: Dong Shi, the very man Xue Yao had been trying to capture. Stating he was there to save Chu Yue, Dong Shi gave Xue Yao a golden elixir to counteract the poison the Emperor had given her.
He also revealed he had incapacitated the guards at the door before discreetly departing. The next morning, Chu Yue awoke and deduced from subtle signs that Xue Yao had been there. She decided she could no longer let him risk himself for her, nor would she allow her father to continue exploiting her. Meanwhile, at his mansion, a suspicious Xue Yao instructed Bai Liqi to examine the elixir. Bai Liqi then informed him that Xizhao had sent envoys to Nansang.
Xue Yao suspected deeper motives beyond a show of allegiance, as their recent discovery of Dark Steel Ore—capable of making one warrior as strong as ten—complicated Nansang's control over them. In the imperial court, Lord Wang advocated for appeasement, proposing to grant Xizhao independence in exchange for their Dark Steel Ore. Lord Su fiercely opposed this, sparking a heated argument.
The Emperor sided with Lord Wang, ordering a grand reception for the envoys and putting Lord Su in charge of security. Later, Xingchen arrived to escort a disguised Chu Yue out of the palace. Their escape was thwarted by the commotion of the Xizhao envoys' arrival. Amidst the chaos, Chu Yue was intercepted by Infanta Naxi.
Lord Su, the Chief Executive of the capital, arrived to apprehend Chu Yue, but Naxi cleverly defended her, framing her presence as an act of hospitality. Naxi then asserted her authority by forcing a reluctant Chu Yue into her carriage to return to the palace. Upon her return, the Emperor demanded to know what she had dreamt.
Chu Yue stated she had dreamt nothing and vowed not to reveal any future prophecy, lamenting that she only had one chance left and would rather die than be a tool. Eunuch Gao intervened, reminding the Emperor that the birthstone would be lost if she died and advising they search for the National Division's confidants instead. The Emperor agreed, acknowledging her usefulness.
Meanwhile, Infanta Naxi confirmed to her subordinates that while their public mission involved a marriage alliance and the ore, they had a more crucial, secret objective. Unknown to Xue Yao and Prince Shun, who were searching the city, the assassins Xue Yao had been pursuing were secretly hiding among the Xizhao envoy group, confident they would not be found there.
