Time Flies and You Are Here Episode 18 Recap
> Time Flies and You Are Here Recap
Minggu, filled with righteous anger, intended to confront Shen Zhaowen. Along the way, she was followed by Yan Boyang, who tried to distract her by suggesting they go to the back mountain to pluck cassia twigs. Minggu, however, was resolute in her purpose. Yan Boyang, noticing her necklace, exclaimed about its beauty, recognizing it as "Naga Pearls of the Eastern Sea" and remarking, "Good pearls match good people." Minggu clarified it was a family heirloom from her mother.
When Minggu insisted she needed to go, dismissing Yan Boyang's attempt to join her by saying, "It involves resentment between women. Go elsewhere," he still tagged along. Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaoqian had taken Xie Xiaoman to Lake Nanming, hoping to speak to her more freely as it was less crowded than earlier. He expressed his deep feelings, sharing that he never imagined falling in love. Xie Xiaoman entered his life, a carefree girl from the countryside, completely different from him.
He felt she had "supernatural powers" because, before her, his heart had never felt "so alive." He admitted his selfishness, wishing she would always stay by his side so his life wouldn't be "so lifeless anymore." Before he could say more, a small monk interrupted them with urgent news: a fight had broken out in the main hall, and Lady Shen was injured.
Inside the Buddhist hall, Shen Zhaowen had just finished praying for a happy marriage with Zhao Xiaoqian when Minggu stormed in, questioning if Shen Zhaowen had done anything against her conscience. Shen Zhaowen's maid immediately defended her mistress and demanded evidence. Minggu directly accused Shen Zhaowen of orchestrating Xu Shu's theft of the Helu to frame Xie Xiaoman. She pointed out that everyone in Wujiang Prefecture knew Xu Shu was associated with the Shen family.
The maid retorted, insulting Minggu and Xie Xiaoman, calling them "vulgar" and "dirty losers," and asserted that Xie Xiaoman didn't "deserve" Shen Zhaowen's malice. Losing her temper, Minggu called Yan Boyang to assist. While Yan Boyang grappled with the maid, Minggu physically confronted Shen Zhaowen. During their struggle, a jade bottle, Principal Yang's offering, was shattered.
Shen Zhaowen then stepped on Minggu's pearl necklace, which had fallen to the floor, causing her to slip, hit her head on a table, and lose consciousness. Upon Zhao Xiaoqian's arrival, he quickly carried the unconscious Shen Zhaowen away to find a physician. Director Xu intervened, trying to calm the situation. Xie Ruying exaggerated, claiming Minggu had provoked the incident and pushed Shen Zhaowen.
Shen Zhaowen's maid, brandishing her mistress's title as Commandery Princess Rong'an, warned Director Xu of severe consequences if anything went wrong. Minggu, though, stood her ground, declaring, "I'll be responsible for my own actions. I started the fight, but Lady Shen incidentally stepped on the pearls, fell on the floor and got hurt. Am I also responsible for that? At most, I'll let you hit me back."
Xie Xiaoman then stepped forward, apologizing on Minggu's behalf and promising that the Su family would bear all medical and recuperation costs. Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaoqian, after ensuring Shen Zhaowen was being attended to, wanted to check on Xie Xiaoman, but Shen Zhaowen clung to him, pleading, "Hanchen, can you keep me company for a while? I'm a little scared." She evoked their childhood, insisting he stay by her side.
Zhao Xiaoqian, torn, told her he would ask Zipei to keep her company, but Shen Zhaowen adamantly refused. Xie Xiaoman then walked in, seeing Zhao Xiaoqian by Shen Zhaowen's bedside, and politely asked him to step out. Once they were alone, Xie Xiaoman confronted Shen Zhaowen directly about the Helu. Shen Zhaowen, after some prodding, admitted her involvement in its theft.
Xie Xiaoman observed that while people in the Commandery Prince's Mansion wanted Shen Zhaowen and Zhao Xiaoqian to marry, Zhao Xiaoqian himself did not. Shen Zhaowen retorted that it had nothing to do with Xie Xiaoman, whom she called a "concubine," and accused her of being full of herself.
Shen Zhaowen then dropped a bombshell: a memorial for her marriage with Zhao Xiaoqian was already being prepared in the capital, and Zhao Xiaoqian had known about it all along but never told Xie Xiaoman. She cruelly suggested that Xie Xiaoman held little importance to him and advised her to leave Zhao Xiaoqian now to avoid a more ignominious fate later, like becoming a nun in an ancestral temple.
As Shen Zhaowen's maid came in to end the conversation, Xie Xiaoman reiterated her apology for Minggu's actions. Shen Zhaowen coolly accepted, telling her only to tell Minggu to be more careful, and the maid ushered Xie Xiaoman out. After Xie Xiaoman's departure, Shen Zhaowen instructed her maid to quickly investigate Xie Xiaoman's background and press Princess Consort Pu in the capital to hasten the imperial decree for her marriage.
Xie Xiaoman, deeply upset, tried to avoid Zhao Xiaoqian, but he caught up to her, asking what was wrong. She directly questioned him about his engagement to Shen Zhaowen. Zhao Xiaoqian, visibly distressed, confirmed it was true but promised, "I definitely won't agree to it. Believe me, okay? I can solve this." Xie Xiaoman, hurt, questioned how he would solve an "imperial order from the capital" and accused him of lying and keeping secrets.
Zhao Xiaoqian explained that he had feared this day since he married her. As the Commandery Prince of Julu, his mind was consumed by her, even to the point of defying an imperial order. He lied because he didn't want her to worry, to overthink, or to leave him, emphasizing, "I really like you, Xiaoman." Xie Xiaoman, however, was skeptical. " You like me?" she asked, highlighting the imperial order that bound him to Shen Zhaowen.
She felt like a "small object" in their relationship, to be "coaxed" when liked and "discarded" when not. She accused him of mere "possession," not love, and questioned how she could possibly trust him. With that, she turned and left, leaving Zhao Xiaoqian calling out her name.
Later, a monk spoke to a seemingly distraught Zhao Xiaoqian about the insignificance of humans in the vast universe yet the nobility of human spirit, contemplating the nature of attachment and the choice to let go. Suddenly, an earthquake rocked Kunyan Temple. Director Xu frantically took a headcount, discovering that Zhao Xiaoqian and Yan Boyang were missing. Shen Zhaowen, asserting her authority as Commandery Princess Rong'an, insisted on leading a search party for Zhao Xiaoqian.
Xie Xiaoman also desperately wanted to go, but Director Xu tried to stop her, deeming her a "headache" like Shen Zhaowen. Li Su then offered to accompany Xie Xiaoman, reassuring Director Xu that they would be fine, and they set off. Meanwhile, Minggu searched for Yan Boyang in the Buddhist hall, finding him huddled under a table. Yan Boyang explained he was hiding there because his mother had taught him it was the safest place during an earthquake.
He then retrieved Minggu's heirloom pearl necklace, which had fallen during the earlier scuffle, explaining he knew it was precious and should not be lost, as she might want to pass it to her future daughter. Minggu was touched to tears, realizing he had risked his life to find her necklace despite her earlier harsh words, calling him an "idiot." Xie Xiaoman and Li Su eventually found Zhao Xiaoqian. Moments later, Shen Zhaowen also arrived, having sprained her ankle.
As Zhao Xiaoqian helped her, Shen Zhaowen leaned into him, declaring, "Hanchen, I've always liked you. I've been thinking every day when we'll get married." She then looked pointedly at Xie Xiaoman and Li Su, adding, "Who would've thought he's actually liked by someone? I was wrong about him," aiming to provoke Xie Xiaoman. Zhao Xiaoqian then carried Shen Zhaowen back. As Xie Xiaoman turned to leave, a book fell from her hands.
Li Su picked it up and found a note inside expressing her desire to see the Queen of the Night flower, known to bloom only for a few hours at night between summer and autumn. Knowing the mountain well from his long stay, Li Su offered to take her. They soon found the rare blooms. Xie Xiaoman, though acknowledging their beauty, still felt a deep sadness.
In the city, Zhao Xiaoqian stumbled upon a "touhu" game and noticed the pot was rigged with black beans to prevent winning. He exposed the trick, leading the dishonest stall owner to call for backup. Zhao Xiaoqian easily subdued the aggressive men, identifying them as army deserters. Coincidentally, Mr. Qin, the arms instructor, arrived in the city to report on military supplies and promptly arrested the deserters. Zhong Ziyan questioned Zhao Xiaoqian about his unusually aggressive behavior.
Zhao Xiaoqian, explaining that desertion was a capital offense, then confided that Xie Xiaoman had learned about his engagement with Shen Zhaowen. He decided to seek help from Principal Yang, hoping to get an official title conferred upon Xie Xiaoman. However, Principal Yang showed him a letter indicating that the Prince Pu's Mansion's marriage alliance with the Shen family was already well-known in the capital, and the imperial palace had effectively given its approval.
Back at Jingnv Pavilion, Teacher Liu, discussing an upcoming assignment about future aspirations, noted that Xie Xiaoman had not yet submitted hers. Xie Xiaoman explained her difficulty in finding a clear direction and requested more time. Li Su, having decided not to participate in the spring imperial examination and to remain a teacher, advised Xie Xiaoman. He mentioned that Teacher Liu was considering appointing female historians and thought highly of Xie Xiaoman, urging her to apply herself.
Referencing the story of Jiufang Gao and the Horse, Li Su advised Xie Xiaoman not to judge things merely by appearances or believe only one side of a story but to seek clarification. He then invited her to accompany him to the city's outskirts the following afternoon, promising she would understand his reasons upon arrival. Meanwhile, Xie Xiaoman's mother brought her another plump hen, pressing her to have a son soon to secure her status in the Commandery Prince's Mansion. Upset, Xie Xiaoman accused her mother of "selling" her and lamented being brought to Wujiang Prefecture in the first place.
