The Sleepless Princess Episode 6 Recap
> The Sleepless Princess Recap
Marquis Beize, having traveled a great distance to Nansang, found himself thoroughly displeased with the selection of beauties presented at Fan House. He lamented his ill fortune, having first encountered an inauspicious princess and now being offered unremarkable women after paying handsomely. As he continued to scrutinize images of local beauties, he stumbled upon a portrait of Chu Yue from her wedding day, the very same Xu Chuyue with whom he had broken off an engagement.
He was told the portrait was drawn by a scholar who witnessed the chaotic wedding, and that the real Chu Yue was a hundred times more beautiful than the painting. Incredulous, as he recalled a deliberately ugly portrait he had been shown previously, the Marquis realized he had been part of an elaborate hoax. Meanwhile, Chu Yue approached a pensive Xue Yao, her demeanor noticeably changed.
She served him tea and tended to him with an unfamiliar diligence, explaining that her time in the dungeon had led her to a profound realization on how to be a virtuous wife. As she tidied his books, Chu Yue discovered an order from Panxiang Court.
When Xue Yao feigned ignorance, Chu Yue playfully teased that he had a sweetheart, then explained that Panxiang Court's cosmetics were highly coveted, rare, and expensive, with the renowned Liuyunfeixue skin cream requiring a half-year wait for an order. She deduced that such a precious purchase must have been for a very important woman. Xue Yao then revealed the order was found among his deceased brother Xue Mu's relics, dated the day before his fatal accident.
He recognized this could be a crucial clue; finding the recipient might unveil the truth of what happened that day. Later, Chu Yue and Tao Yao ventured out. Chu Yue bought sugar-coated haws, intending to appease Xingchen, whom she felt wouldn't speak to her otherwise. They encountered a vendor selling popular paintings depicting Prince Shun attempting to stop Princess Chu Yue's wedding.
Dismayed by the widespread circulation of the embarrassing event, Chu Yue remarked on how bad news travels fast and decided to hurry to find Xingchen. At Fan House, King Shun found Xingchen engrossed in a book, remarking on his brother's studious nature in such a place. He also expressed disappointment in Chu Yue, likening a married sister to "poured water" that disappears without a trace.
Elsewhere in the same establishment, Marquis Beize, still fuming over being deceived, spotted Chu Yue and was instantly captivated by her beauty, ordering his men to follow her. Soon after, Chu Yue found Xingchen, who was still upset, feeling betrayed by her actions in the dungeon. Chu Yue explained that her behavior was merely a performance for Xue Yao, a necessary act to avoid being imprisoned by their father, the Emperor.
She reminded Xingchen of their childhood pact to escape the palace and live freely. Understanding, Xingchen's anger subsided. After ensuring they were alone, Chu Yue confided her plan to escape the Xue mansion while on the road to pick up Xue's old lady from the temple. They agreed on a secret signal: "When the moon hangs behind the willows, those who part will feel sorrow." Unbeknownst to them, the Marquis's men, following his orders, overheard their entire conversation.
Before her departure, Xingchen applied the rare Liuyunfeixue cream to Chu Yue's anklets, explaining it would muffle any sounds as she fled. Chu Yue was surprised, noting the cream was so precious that even Imperial Noble Consort Su did not possess it, but Xingchen insisted that no expense was too great for his sister. The day came for Chu Yue to fetch Xue's old lady.
As Chu Yue prepared to leave, Xue Yao advised her to wear a veil, as a princess should not be so exposed in public. After she left, Xue Yao, feeling unusually unsettled, called off his training for the day. Meanwhile, at Jifu Temple, Xue's old lady grumbled about the coarse food and Chu Yue's tardiness.
Upon hearing that the princess was coming to pick her up, the old lady, who had not yet acknowledged Chu Yue as her nephew's wife, declared her intent to give her a hard time. On the journey, Chu Yue feigned a need to relieve herself and went into the woods, instructing Tao Yao to keep watch. There, she sought Xingchen's men using their agreed-upon secret phrase. However, the Marquis's men were lying in wait and abducted her.
When Chu Yue failed to return after a long time, Tao Yao grew anxious, noting that the princess would never abandon her books. Realizing something was gravely wrong, Tao Yao cried out for help, instructing a servant to inform the General while others began a search. Chu Yue awoke to find herself bound in an unfamiliar room. Marquis Beize entered, revealing himself as her former fiancé.
He accused her and Xue Yao of an elaborate deception, citing the ugly portrait and pointing out that she was clearly capable enough to be plotting escapes in Fan House. Realizing he had overheard her conversation with Xingchen, Chu Yue feigned victimhood. She claimed Xue Yao had tricked her into marriage and cruelly tormented her in the dungeon.
She even blamed the Marquis for her current plight, suggesting that if he hadn't broken off their engagement, she wouldn't be in such a miserable state. Flattered by her desperate pleas, particularly when she implied it would be an honor to marry him in a "next life," the Marquis decided to take her back to Beize State immediately. He ordered her untied but, despite her attempts to stall by eating, tried to lead her to a private room.
Chu Yue tried to create a diversion by shouting about assassins, but her escape attempt was quickly foiled. Back at the Xue mansion, Xue Yao was training with his master, who noted Su Nannan's recent decline in skill due to impatience. A servant delivered the shocking news of Chu Yue's abduction. Bai Liqi informed Xue Yao privately that masked assassins had taken Chu Yue, suspecting they were the same individuals from the unsolved earlier attacks.
He proposed using Chu Yue as bait to expose the mastermind, which could in turn uncover the true cause of General Xue's death. Bai Liqi offered to disclose Chu Yue's location, provided Xue Yao adhered to the plan and did not alert their captors. Xue Yao acknowledged Bai Liqi's insight, stating he understood the delicate nature of the situation.
