Time Flies and You Are Here Episode 13 Recap
> Time Flies and You Are Here Recap
Li Su accompanied Xie Xiaoman home to her worried parents. Her mother scolded her father for his perceived uselessness, believing it had caused Xiaoman's predicament, while her father blamed himself. When Xie Li brought Xiaoman inside, her mother worried about her weight loss, and her father started hitting himself, filled with remorse. Li Su intervened, introducing himself as Xiaoman's senior from the academy and reminding her mother that they had met before.
He then asked to speak with her parents privately, sending Xiaoman to rest. Li Su reassured them, explaining that although he and the Commandery Prince were not on good terms, the young man Zhao Xiaoqian chose to 'buy' Xiaoman from had strong ties with Li Su's father. Li Su had already made arrangements: if Xiaoman were indeed sold, they would redeem her. He acknowledged that this situation would unfortunately tarnish Xiaoman's reputation.
Meanwhile, Wick informed Xiaoman that the Commandery Prince's mansion was preparing for a memorial. Shi Deng'er had told her that Duke of Yongguo, Zhao Xiaoqian's brother, had a birthday approaching, and it was customary for the mansion to hold a memorial every year around this time. Xiaoman recalled Zhao Xiaoqian mentioning his brother's birthday was after the Qixi Festival. Deeply affected, Zhao Xiaoqian secretly visited Mount Han Temple in the rain to light lanterns for his brother.
He reminisced about their childhood, how he was stubborn and playful while his brother was reliable. Everyone expected his brother to be the next Emperor, a role Zhao Xiaoqian never contested. He only wished to protect the state for his brother from the borders. But then he was exiled from the capital, and his brother met an even worse fate.
He remembered wishing to fly the highest kite so his parents would see it and bring them home from Wude Palace. His brother comforted him, promising to always be there for him, saying that the wooden sword and kites would also always be with him. He then promised to take him to fly the kite. Suddenly, Zhao Xiaoqian saw a kite in the sky and excitedly ran towards it, only to find Zhong Ziyan flying it.
Zhong Ziyan explained that Xiaoman had made and given him the kite, hoping it would ease Zhao Xiaoqian's grief for his brother, Xiaojie. Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian about to get angry, Zhong Ziyan stopped him, expressing his wish that Zhao Xiaoqian wouldn't regret his actions. He conveyed Xiaoman's sentiment that "the Zhao Xiaoqian she knows never worried about a single thing" and handed him the kite string. Later, Wang Weicheng came to Xiaoman.
He clarified that he had no intention of marrying her because he and Lang Mengzi from Jingnv Pavilion were childhood sweethearts, and he had promised her he would never take a concubine. He then revealed Zhao Xiaoqian's true instructions: after the polo tournament, Wang Weicheng was to take Xiaoman's deed, release her, and give her a title deed, telling her never to return to Wujiang Prefecture.
Wang Weicheng handed all the documents Zhao Xiaoqian had given him to Xiaoman, leaving them to sort it out themselves. Xiaoman realized that Zhao Xiaoqian had not genuinely intended to sell her. She then went with Minggu to the market, bought bamboo splint and cloth, and made the kite. The polo tournament continued, having been postponed from the previous day due to rain. Zhao Xiaoqian arrived just as the time limit for his team was about to expire.
He apologized to the ladies of Jingnv Pavilion, stating that he wouldn't disrespect their efforts and ambition by not showing up. He told Xiaoman he would see her test through and wouldn't go easy on her. The match was intense. Later that night, Zhao Xiaoqian met Xiaoman at the brightly lit Mount Han Temple. Xiaoman confronted him, asking why he was harassing her when she was about to become a respectable woman again.
Zhao Xiaoqian stubbornly declared he wouldn't release her. He apologized for his previous harsh words about selling her, admitting he was wrong. Xiaoman revealed that Wang Weicheng had told her Zhao Xiaoqian actually wanted to free her. Despite this, Zhao Xiaoqian playfully insisted he wouldn't release her now, comparing himself to a dog that changes its mind. Xiaoman laughed, forgiving him, and they watched fireworks together, signaling their reconciliation.
Separately, Shen Zhaowen visited the Princess Consort, requesting permission to travel to Wujiang Prefecture under the pretense of visiting relatives. The Princess Consort, who wished for Zhao Xiaoqian and Shen Zhaowen to marry, was pleased, promising to "be on her side" if Zhao Xiaoqian upset her. Li Su went to find Yanniang, but only saw her maid Qiongqiong packing. He then learned that Yanniang had decided to marry Squire Wang and had called him there to bid farewell.
Yanniang recalled their first meeting at Yanliu Forest and recited a poem. She also sang a song, making three wishes: for her lover to live long, for her own health, and to meet him in her dreams. Li Su then recalled Lord Yan's words to him: as long as Li Su served as Yanniang's guarantor, she could not regain her freedom because his father would never permit him to marry a courtesan.
Lord Yan advised him to let go, especially since another man was willing to guarantee her freedom, so she could find a husband. Overcome with melancholy, Li Su was distracted during class, his voice fading as he read a sorrowful poem. Xie Xiaoman noticed his unusual behavior.
Later, Wick informed Xiaoman that Courtesan Zhu was reportedly marrying a wealthy squire who owned hundreds of acres of farmland and was no longer interested in Li Su, whom she described as a poor scholar. Xiaoman wondered if Yanniang was being forced into the marriage by Squire Wang, fearing that Li Su, as a poor scholar, couldn't fight against him.
Zhao Xiaoqian, having decided he wanted to talk to Xiaoman and needed a pretext, went shopping with Zhong Ziyan and Yan Boyang. Yan Boyang suggested a "poem hidden in a lantern" for the upcoming Ghost Festival, claiming it was a popular and effective way to confess feelings. Zhao Xiaoqian dismissed it as too subtle for his temperament, preferring a more direct approach. He eventually bought a lantern with "Lover on the other side" written on it.
He later gave this flower lantern to Xiaoman. During a visit to Xiaoman's home, Zhao Xiaoqian critiqued her calligraphy and taught her the Su Calligraphy style. He then asked if she liked "poem hidden in lanterns." Xiaoman, however, was preoccupied with the thought of Yanniang potentially being coerced. Zhao Xiaoqian jokingly suggested staying the night and was promptly called a "lecher" by Xiaoman.
Meanwhile, Yan Boyang wrote a letter to his pen pal, detailing his affections for Minggu and seeking advice. Xu Shu snatched the letter, threatening to copy it hundreds of times and post it all over Bailu Academy unless Yan Boyang paid him twenty strings of cash. Yan Boyang was desperate, not wanting "Ming. . ." to find out. Qiongqiong, distraught, tried to stop Yanniang from burning her letters to Li Congwen, tearfully stating that Yanniang still yearned for him.
Yanniang, however, was resolute in her decision to marry Squire Wang and leave the next day. Qiongqiong then sought out Xie Xiaoman for help. She confirmed that Yanniang was indeed marrying and that it was her own choice, not by force. Nevertheless, Qiongqiong still believed both Yanniang and Li Congwen cared deeply for each other. She pleaded with Xiaoman to arrange one last meeting between them, hoping for a change of heart or at least a proper farewell.
Qiongqiong gave Xiaoman the second half of a poem, "Sapphire Song," that Yanniang and Li Congwen had co-written, with Li Congwen having penned the first verse. She believed that if Li Congwen saw Yanniang's completed verse, he would surely come to meet her. Qiongqiong informed Xiaoman that Squire Wang's carriage, picking up Yanniang, would pass through the market on Leqiao at the third quarter past seven in the evening during the Ghost Festival night and awaited Xiaoman's message.
