The Sleepless Princess Episode 30 Recap
> The Sleepless Princess Recap
Dongshi revealed to Naxi that they shared the same target: Xu Chu Yue. He proposed an alliance, offering to help her win Xue Yao's heart if she, in turn, helped him capture Chu Yue. He advised Naxi to continue feigning unconsciousness, emphasizing that if she wanted to secure Xue Yao, he must not discover she was awake. Xue Yao approached the Emperor, offering the death-exemption medal bestowed by the late Emperor to secure Chu Yue's release.
The Emperor suspected Xue Yao still had feelings for Chu Yue, but Xue Yao insisted they were not meant to be, stating he only wished to prevent her from being unjustly framed while the true culprit remained free. The Emperor explained that the medal could not resolve matters involving other nations like Xizhao and that even the late Emperor would be powerless.
He then revealed that Xizhao's explicit demand for Naxi's recovery was for Xue Yao to marry her for good fortune, just as he had previously married Chu Yue. Prince Ning visited Naxi's chambers with expensive gifts, attempting to speak with her alone. Her attendant, Duoertu, refused to leave her side. To provoke them, Prince Ning offered to marry Naxi himself, urging her not to pursue Xue Yao. Enraged, the still-feigning-unconscious Naxi attempted to attack him with a hidden weapon.
Startled, Prince Ning fled, calling out about an assassin. Afterward, Naxi ordered the gifts to be burned and sent a message to Xue Yao: if he refused to marry her, she would have Chu Yue killed to vent her anger. Xue Yao visited Chu Yue in her cell, waking her to prevent her from transforming during the forbidden hours. Chu Yue embraced him, asking about Naxi's condition and expressing deep regret, saying she only ever wanted to elope with him.
She lamented that their dream of running away was over. Fearing she would bring him more trouble as she had his late brother, she urged him to leave and not to involve himself in her fate any longer. Meanwhile, Xingchen resolved to break Chu Yue out of prison. He told his attendant that his sister would surely die if he didn't act and that with the Emperor unwilling to offend Xizhao, he was her only hope.
All the necessary arrangements for the jailbreak had been made. Luo Ji reported to Xue Yao that an examination of Tangben's body revealed three rare poisons, all traceable to Dongshi's alchemy room. Xue Yao concluded Dongshi was the mastermind, seeking Chu Yue for her birthstone, and that his brother, Xue Mu, was likely killed in the fire after uncovering Dongshi's plot.
Acknowledging the profound barrier his brother's death created between him and Chu Yue, Xue Yao focused on first securing her release, hoping she might forgive him in the future. Xingchen entered Chu Yue's cell, but she condemned his plan, insisting she wasn't worth the sacrifice. Xingchen retorted that he had earned his royal title solely to protect her from such indignities. To force him to leave, Chu Yue slapped herself and knelt, begging him to go.
She confessed to having used him in the past out of a sense of duty to his mother, Concubine Jing, and now felt immense guilt. Heartbroken by her pleas and her refusal to leave with him, Xingchen reluctantly departed. Xue Yao confronted Naxi in her chambers, seeing through her pretense. Naxi admitted she feigned her condition to compel him to marry her.
Xue Yao stated there was no love between them and suggested the poisoning was a misunderstanding, possibly orchestrated by Dongshi. Naxi dismissed the need for truth; accusing Chu Yue of poisoning her, Naxi declared she was willing to have Chu Yue killed if Xue Yao refused to marry her. She framed the marriage as a transaction, gambling with Chu Yue's life and insisting he "owed her."
As Xingchen's men attempted the jailbreak, they were met by a large force of Xizhao guards. Naxi revealed she had deployed them to prevent anyone from rescuing Chu Yue. A fierce battle erupted, and Xue Yao arrived, joining the fray. The Emperor intervened, reminding Xue Yao of his ancestors who died for the people and warning him that the nation's stability now rested on his decision.
Faced with the envoy's ultimatum that Chu Yue would die if he refused, Xue Yao painfully agreed to the marriage. Naxi, distrustful, demanded he tell Chu Yue himself. Accompanied by Naxi, Xue Yao coldly informed Chu Yue of his decision to marry Naxi, claiming he would never visit her again. When Chu Yue asked if he was doing it to save her, he cruelly retorted that his marriage was none of her business.
He blamed her for his brother's death and for his own compromised morality, stating that marrying Naxi was a way to escape those painful memories. Chu Yue refused to believe his words were true, but he insisted his brother's death was an insurmountable barrier. She pleaded with him to look her in the eyes and admit he had given up on her, but he couldn't.
Privately, Naxi told her attendant that she detested being threatened by Dongshi and would never be his pawn. She explained that if Chu Yue died, she would forever remain in Xue Yao's heart. Therefore, Chu Yue had to live to witness Naxi's marriage to Xue Yao. To solidify the alliance, Xizhao presented a gift of 120 units of refined iron.
The Xizhao envoy then relayed Naxi's request: for Chu Yue, her "only friend" in Nansang, to serve as her bridesmaid and officiate the wedding. The Emperor was taken aback by the proposal. Xingchen found a troubled Xue Yao and furiously berated him for betraying Chu Yue, expressing that he had lost all respect for him. Later, while being treated for his injuries, Xue Yao confided in Bai Liqi about his dilemma.
Bai Liqi examined a wooden wolf figurine Naxi had given Xue Yao and noted its lifelike detail was suspicious, suggesting she must have a deep understanding of wolves from more than a single encounter. Suspecting a hidden story behind how Naxi saved him years ago, Xue Yao dispatched spies to Xizhao to investigate her past. Finally, Xingchen went to Chu Yue's cell to announce her release. Seeing their somber faces, she knew something was wrong. They informed her of the Emperor's condition for her freedom: she must serve as the bridesmaid at Xue Yao and Naxi's wedding.
