Time Flies and You Are Here Episode 17 Recap
> Time Flies and You Are Here Recap
Xie Xiaoman was consumed by self-blame after misplacing Helu, believing the fault was entirely hers. Minggu tried to console her, assuring her that all the employees of Su Chang Chi had been dispatched to search for the sword, confident they would find it given their family's standing. However, Xie Xiaoman felt that if retrieving it were easy, Zhao Xiaoqian wouldn't have been so distraught. She insisted the incident was her mistake, preventable with more caution.
Minggu reminded her of the important selection ceremony for the main dancer that day, urging her to focus on being positive. Suddenly, they overheard people on the street discussing how Yan Boyang was gambling with Xu Shu at a brothel over a sword, losing heavily. Suspecting it might be Helu, Xie Xiaoman decided to go to the brothel first and asked Minggu to inform Zhao Xiaoqian.
Minggu worried that Xie Xiaoman would miss the selection and lose to Shen Zhaowen, but Xie Xiaoman clarified that her purpose was never to win against Shen Zhaowen, urging Minggu to hurry and get help. At the brothel, Yan Boyang had already lost everything and failed to reclaim Helu. He attempted to challenge Xu Shu again, but Xu Shu mocked his empty pockets and refused further bets, turning to leave.
Xie Xiaoman intervened, offering her Hetian Jade hairpin from the Commandery Prince's Mansion as a new stake. Xu Shu scoffed at her, a mere lady, wanting to gamble. He then demanded she drink an entire jar of Meishou Wine before he would consider gambling, adding that his decision to wager Helu depended on his mood. Xie Xiaoman boldly accepted and quickly drank the wine.
In her drunken state, she lashed out at Xu Shu, accusing him of framing Yan Boyang to get to her, and vowing to settle the score. Xie Xiaoman then offered a new wager to Xu Shu: if she won, she would reclaim Helu and Xu Shu would have to kowtow three times to her husband, Zhao Xiaoqian; if she lost, she would kowtow to him. The crowd urged Xu Shu to accept.
He rolled the dice and scored four points, but Xie Xiaoman, in a stunning turn, rolled a rare winning combination that scored five points, securing her the win. She triumphantly demanded Xu Shu honor the bet and apologize to Zhao Xiaoqian. As Xu Shu tried to renege, Zhao Xiaoqian arrived, having been informed by Minggu. Faced with the Commandery Prince, Xu Shu was compelled to kneel, return Helu, and the money he had won.
Before leaving, Zhao Xiaoqian ordered Xu Shu to tell his master, Shen Yan, to meet him that night. He then carried the inebriated Xie Xiaoman back to the mansion. A physician confirmed she was only suffering from the effects of Meishou Wine, which was not serious, and would recover. Zhao Xiaoqian tenderly cared for Xiaoman in her room, affectionately calling her "rascal" and expressing his concern that she might miss the selection. He suggested she could dance for him instead.
Later, Yan Boyang approached Zhao Xiaoqian, apologizing for taking Helu, especially knowing its significance and that it was with Xie Xiaoman. Zhao Xiaoqian responded by punching him once, then declared the matter closed, forbidding anyone from mentioning it again. Meanwhile, Shen Yan confronted Shen Zhaowen at the academy, having learned from Xu Shu that she was behind the theft of Helu.
He furiously chastised her for resorting to such "lowly methods" and reminded her of Zhao Xiaoqian’s deep emotional attachment to Helu, linked to his brother's passing. Shen Zhaowen angrily retorted that Shen Yan, who left home as a teenager, knew nothing of her struggles.
She explained that if Zhao Xiaoqian did not marry her, she would be forced into the palace to serve His Majesty, becoming a tool for the Empress to compete against Noble Consort Zhang, all for Shen Yan's political future. Shen Yan was taken aback by her revelation, stating he never intended for his aspirations to be built on his sister's sacrifice.
Her maid further inflamed Shen Zhaowen's resolve, arguing she shouldn't lose to Xie Xiaoman, who "crawled into His Highness' bed first," asserting that "it's every man for himself." Realizing the marriage with Zhao Xiaoqian was fast approaching, Shen Zhaowen resolved not to give up and ordered her Dance of Nuo costume, determined to assert her status as Commandery Princess Rong'an. That evening, Zhao Xiaoqian and Shen Yan engaged in a spar.
Shen Yan questioned why Zhao Xiaoqian, who hadn't used a sword in years, had changed. Zhao Xiaoqian replied that someone told him "if you do not treat a wound, it'd remain there forever," and he wished to uncover it. He recalled once losing to Shen Yan and His Majesty saying his heart was "unsettled." After his brother's death, he abandoned the sword for a bow, a choice Shen Yan had also questioned.
Now, Zhao Xiaoqian declared that since he had "wielded the Helu again, nobody will be able to take it away from me." Shen Yan warned that "the capital has its eyes on us," and they could not escape their destinies. He pointed out that Shen Zhaowen's visit was tied to Zhao Xiaoqian's marriage contract, suggesting he couldn't simply deny it.
Zhao Xiaoqian firmly stated he would not marry Shen Zhaowen and refused to acknowledge the marriage, then decisively won the spar. Later, Shen Zhaowen performed the Dance of Nuo at Bailu Academy, garnering widespread praise. Separately, Xie Xiaoman performed a ceremonial Dance of Nuo outdoors for Zhao Xiaoqian. She recited a poignant message to his deceased brother, praising Zhao Xiaoqian's filial piety and dedication to his brother's legacy, and expressed her shared joys and sorrows with him.
After her performance, Zhao Xiaoqian confessed his deep affection, revealing three wishes: for Xiaoman's well-being, for his own long life, and for Xiaoman to love him and be with him forever. He spoke of wanting to share his life with her, to write, watch clouds, eat her cakes, wear her clothes, and grow old together, then gently kissed her. As the civil examinations approached, Principal Yang announced a trip to Mount Kunyan Temple for blessings.
Teacher Liu informed the interested ladies to sign up with Director Xu. Xie Xiaoman and Minggu decided to go. Meanwhile, at Mount Kunyan Temple, a Mr. Li, who had been residing there to compose and drink, informed the abbot he was returning to the capital to take the civil examination, dismissing his writings as worthless. The abbot advised him to let go of attachments. As they spoke, a gust of wind scattered his manuscripts, which he accepted as "heaven's will."
Back at the academy, Minggu playfully teased Xie Xiaoman about her growing affections for Zhao Xiaoqian, noting that everyone else was aware of Zhao Xiaoqian's feelings. Shen Zhaowen, overhearing their conversation, made a disdainful remark about "noble daughters not mingling with peasant households." Zhao Xiaoqian found Xie Xiaoman reading in her room and pressed her for an answer to his confession. When she tried to avoid him, he pulled her close.
He mentioned Zhu Momo's constant complaints about their unconsummated marriage and suggested he stay in her room that night to silence the nanny. Blushing, Xie Xiaoman agreed to give him her answer when they reached Lake Nanming at Mount Kunyan Temple. Zhao Xiaoqian left, delighted. On the journey to Mount Kunyan Temple, Minggu continued to tease Xie Xiaoman about being "smitten by love."
Xie Xiaoman denied it, but when challenged to list Zhao Xiaoqian's flaws, she could only say he was fierce and yelled at her, quickly adding it was always for her own good. She then called him a "lecher" but hesitated to elaborate further. Separately, Zhao Xiaoqian and Zhong Ziyan discussed his impending marriage to Shen Zhaowen.
Zhao Xiaoqian reiterated his refusal to marry her and asked Zhong Ziyan not to inform Xiaoman until he had resolved the matter, though Zhong Ziyan warned of the difficulties of resisting the arrangement. Minggu urged Xie Xiaoman to accept Zhao Xiaoqian's feelings soon, fearing Shen Zhaowen might seize the opportunity. Reflecting on the Helu incident, Xie Xiaoman suspected Shen Zhaowen orchestrated its theft, deducing that Xu Shu, as Shen Yan's subordinate, would have no reason to steal Helu unless instructed.
She concluded that Shen Zhaowen knew Helu's importance to Zhao Xiaoqian and intended to use its theft to drive Xie Xiaoman away. Minggu was shocked by Shen Zhaowen's cunning and vowed to confront her at the temple. At Mount Kunyan Temple, Director Xu began distributing room plaques. Zhao Xiaoqian promptly declared that he and "Lady Xie" would share a room, publicly pulling a protesting Xie Xiaoman away.
She insisted she and Minggu had important matters to investigate, but Zhao Xiaoqian maintained that as husband and wife, they must share a room. He ignored her pleas, even when she reminded him they were on holy ground, and embraced her as she nearly stumbled.
