The Sleepless Princess Episode 29 Recap
> The Sleepless Princess Recap
In a past flashback, the Emperor discovered his beloved concubine with an adulterer at Guoxi Pavilion. Enraged, he demanded to know the man's identity, but she refused to reveal it. When he questioned her loyalty given his past affection, she defiantly declared that an hour with her beloved was more precious than years spent with him. Furious, the Emperor vowed to ensure both she and her lover would come to a miserable end.
In another flashback, Dong Shi's long-term goal was revealed: he worked tirelessly to become the Great Master's apprentice, hoping to take his beloved, Feixue, out of the Palace and ultimately resurrect her using the birthstone. In the present, he tells his subordinate it is time for Infanta Naxi's secret to be exposed, as he has grown tired of maintaining the pretense. Later, an Envoy from Xizhao arrives, seeking Infanta Naxi.
A servant informs him that the Infanta is resting and has not responded, perhaps due to exhaustion from chasing an assassin. The Envoy quickly realizes the Infanta has been poisoned into a coma and orders everyone in the vicinity to be arrested. Meanwhile, Xue Yao frantically searches for the pension money granted for his brother, Xue Mu, considering it his brother's life's worth and his sole memento.
Confronting Chu Yue, he angrily reveals that Xue Mu died in a fire while saving her. He expresses his anguish, having searched for so long only to find the answer lay with the person he married. Chu Yue, devastated, admits she has no memory of Xue Mu. Xue Yao then gives her a letter from his brother. As she reads it, Chu Yue learns the profound truth: Xue Mu was her secret bodyguard and was deeply in love with her.
His letter revealed that he had been protecting her during her secret transformations, observing her turn into a rabbit and a horse, and had fallen for her clumsy charm. He wrote the letter because mysterious assassins posed a monthly threat, and he wanted to ensure her safety. Overwhelmed, Chu Yue asks what she should do. Xue Yao, heartbroken, weeps, questioning if he should let his brother's sacrifice pave the way for his own marriage.
They share a sorrowful embrace before Xue Yao pushes her away, declaring he will not go to Lingxi Garden to marry her. Chu Yue collapses, consumed by guilt. An imperial physician examines Infanta Naxi, confirming she was poisoned by a highly unusual substance. He can only temporarily control the poison, stating that if she does not awaken within three days, she will be beyond saving. Palace guards arrive to arrest Chu Yue for the murder, citing evidence.
Chu Yue vehemently denies it, explaining she had only given Naxi sleeping pills from the Great Master and is baffled by the poisoning. The Emperor, however, believes she acted out of resentment over Naxi's impending marriage to Xue Yao. King Shun appears, defending Chu Yue and urging the Emperor to investigate fully before reaching a conclusion. He protects Chu Yue from the Xizhao Envoy's attempt to attack her, but despite his efforts, Chu Yue is still arrested.
Chu Yue confronts Dong Shi, questioning if the medicine he provided was the problem. Dong Shi responds indifferently, suggesting she might have taken the wrong medicine in the dark. Chu Yue is alarmed by his detached reaction, as she had always regarded him as a brother. As their confrontation intensifies, Eunuch Gao arrives, ordering Chu Yue to be taken to jail and King Shun to be escorted to the imperial study.
King Shun pleads with Dong Shi to save Naxi, but Dong Shi claims he is powerless to help. Back at the Xue mansion, a restless Xue Yao practices his sword. His Aunt approaches, inquiring about the canceled wedding. Xue Yao recounts the entire ordeal, leaving his Aunt distressed for him. She laments that Xue Yao had rarely been happy since losing his family until Chu Yue came into his life.
In jail, Chu Yue feigns severe abdominal pain and claims to have had a prophetic dream from the birthstone, manipulating the jailers into alerting the Emperor. Xue Yao secretly visits her, urging her not to risk transforming again. Chu Yue admits she lied about the dream to secure her release and voices her suspicion that Dong Shi is behind the poisoning.
Xue Yao confirms that he questioned Dong Shi, who falsely claimed Chu Yue took poison from him out of jealousy, adding that the dose was fatal. Xue Yao reiterates that her life was saved by his brother's sacrifice, and she must live a full life in his honor, warning her against sleeping at forbidden times to prevent a transformation and disturb his brother's peace.
Chu Yue expresses her guilt whenever Xue Mu is mentioned, and Xue Yao admits he feels the same. Dong Shi presents the Emperor with a new elixir, claiming it will prolong life and banish nightmares. The Emperor consumes it and asks about the poisoning. Dong Shi falsely claims he doesn't know Naxi but that Chu Yue had previously sought poison from him due to her rivalry over Xue Yao.
He then promises to find a way to detoxify Naxi and appease Xizhao. The Emperor summons Chu Yue, offering her a chance to atone by revealing her "dream." Chu Yue claims she dreamed of Xizhao people and Nansang traitors conspiring to rebel but couldn't discern their faces. Disbelieving her, the Emperor orders her back to jail.
Chu Yue realizes her father only values her for the birthstone, revealing internally that her true dream was of her biological father, the Great Master, who told her to live well and protect herself. When she implies the Emperor has no pity for her without the stone's power, he coldly states that sparing her life is already a great mercy. Later, a report reaches Dong Shi that Infanta Naxi has no pulse. However, Dong Shi calmly revives her. He instructs Naxi to keep her recovery a secret, then reveals that their true purposes in Nansang, and their target, are one and the same.
