The Sleepless Princess Episode 35 (Ending) Recap
> The Sleepless Princess Recap
Having captured Chu Yue in a secret passage to obtain the second half of a secret manual, Dong Shi cornered the group, announcing his intention for them all to die together. He warned that if anyone moved a step closer to the alchemy furnace behind him, a poisonous smoke would be released, killing not only them but everyone in the Palace. Despite having collapsed after being struck by Dong Shi, Xue Yao was not dead.
Bai Liqi secretly approached him, and they decided to turn the situation to their advantage. Xue Yao then threatened Dong Shi, stating he would destroy Feixue's body if Chu Yue was not released. Dong Shi, deeply concerned for Feixue, agreed to release Chu Yue. However, as he did, Bai Liqi swiftly stabbed Feixue's body with a sword. Enraged and distraught, Dong Shi screamed Feixue's name, declaring that since the world had no place for them, they could finally be together.
He then threw a pill into the alchemy furnace, unleashing a dense toxic gas. Xue Yao, King Shun, and Chu Yue all fainted from the fumes as panic erupted in the palace. Chu Yue found herself once again in a dream, desperately seeking her father, Da Guo Shi, to change the past. Da Guo Shi revealed that altering the past was a singular opportunity and far more complex than her twelve metamorphoses.
He warned her that changing the past would render her a living dead, able to perceive the world but forever unable to respond—a cruel form of death. Da Guo Shi then explained his own sacrifice: when Chu Yue was a baby, she was accidentally dropped by a guard and ceased to breathe. To save her life, he used this power, later telling the Emperor that Chu Yue had received his true teachings so the Emperor would agree to raise her.
Despite his sorrowful warnings, Chu Yue’s resolve remained unshaken. Seeing her determination, Da Guo Shi explained that the Birthstone, being the most exquisite gauge of time, could only alter the outcome of the "most recent instant". With this knowledge, Chu Yue recited the mantra he had taught her. In that precise moment in the real world, just as Dong Shi released the pill, the timeline was altered: Xue Yao managed to catch the pill, preventing the toxic smoke from spreading.
Dong Shi was apprehended, and Chu Yue fell unconscious, her final transformation now imminent. Xue Yao immediately instructed Xingchen to guard the area, ensuring Chu Yue could not escape, while he stayed by her side. True to her destiny, Chu Yue transformed into a tiger. Fearing she would harm Xue Yao, she urged him to leave, but he refused, vowing to stay by her side no matter what she became.
When she threatened him with her fangs, he affectionately called her a "little wildcat" and gently kissed her forehead, calming her. They embraced, spending the night together peacefully. Xue Yao was acutely aware that after this transformation, Chu Yue was fated to become a living dead if she fell asleep. Xue Yao brought the comatose Chu Yue back to the Xue mansion, dedicating every day to her care.
He kept her away from the complexities of court, instead taking her out for strolls in a pushcart, riding horses with her under the moon, and describing the world’s beauty to her. He wove tales of worldly wonders, eccentric individuals, and the joys and sorrows of life, recounting their shared stories daily. He hoped that if she ever awoke, she would not fear the unfamiliar world and would remember him and their bond.
As time passed, Chu Yue did not awaken. Xue Yao began to ponder what would happen if he grew old and died, and she awoke to find him gone. He wished they could live forever in stories, passed down through generations. Embracing her, Xue Yao reminisced about their journey and how they had become the most cherished person in each other's lives.
Tears filled his eyes as he vowed that he would willingly become her "love prisoner" and follow her to hell if she were a demon. He once believed true love meant being bold and fearless until death, but now understood that simply caring for each other was enough to last an eternity.
