Unchained Love Episode 15 Recap
> Unchained Love Recap
Murong Gaogong's spirits noticeably improved after his time at the temple, finding peaceful sleep for the first time in a long while. He learned that the calming incense that brought him such relief was crafted by Rong'an. The Empress Dowager, pleased with Rong'an's efforts and stating her previous fault was minor, offered to bring her back to the palace.
With no apparent fault to find, Murong Gaogong deferred to his mother's decision, allowing Rong'an to return and reside in Changqing Palace, as her former Fengyi Palace was no longer suitable. Meanwhile, Tong Yun expressed her disdain for the palace custom of maids forming partnerships with eunuchs, known as "dui shi." In a conversation with Cao Chunang, she described it as a desperate measure for lonely women seeking a protector to avoid being bullied.
She had heard that powerful eunuchs, like Eunuch Liu, often mistreated their partners cruelly. Tong Yun struggled to comprehend why her own mistress would favor a eunuch, asserting that such unions could never provide the joy of raising children or the normal happiness of an ordinary woman. Cao Chunang tried to suggest that genuine affection could exist in some cases, but his point was lost on her. Late one night, an insomniac Bu Yinlou roused Xiao Duo.
They conversed through a partition, tapping on the wood to communicate. Bu Yinlou playfully asked if he found her beautiful and if he was secretly fond of her. Feigning ignorance, Xiao Duo pretended not to understand, and an amused Bu Yinlou eventually let the matter drop. Later, as their vessel navigated a foggy river, a group of assassins attacked. Xiao Duo fought valiantly but was outnumbered.
Knocked over the side, he managed to stab his sword into the hull, clinging on to avoid falling into the icy river. As the assassins moved to finish him, Bu Yinlou bravely grabbed a sword and charged at one of the attackers, stabbing him. Just as Xiao Duo managed to pull himself back onboard, another assassin fired an arrow directly at Bu Yinlou. Xiao Duo lunged to push her out of the way, taking the arrow in his chest.
The impact sent him plummeting into the river, and without hesitation, Bu Yinlou plunged in after him. Carried by the current, they washed ashore near a secluded, rundown house. Upon regaining consciousness, Bu Yinlou helped the injured Xiao Duo to the shelter. She attempted to extract the arrow from his chest, but her hands trembled too much from fear and cold. After waking, Xiao Duo resolutely pulled the arrow from his own wound.
Though he showed no sign of pain, Bu Yinlou screamed on his behalf, explaining that she was crying out for him since he wouldn't. She then tended to his wound, giving him some precious medicine from a delicate bottle he carried. As Xiao Duo recovered, he deduced the attackers were not river pirates but assassins sent by the Prince of Nanyuan, who likely feared the true purpose of Xiao Duo's imperial mission to West Shu.
Xiao Duo mockingly criticized the assassins as a "bunch of losers," claiming he could have done a better job of killing himself. When Bu Yinlou asked why the Zhaoding Bureau had no prior intelligence, Xiao Duo explained that the Prince of Nanyuan was so cunning that no spy had ever survived in his territory.
Though Bu Yinlou suggested abandoning the trip, Xiao Duo assured her they would be safe once they entered West Shu, as any harm to him there would directly implicate the Prince. However, his severe injury meant they had to wait for Cao Chunang to find them. Later that night, feeling cold, Bu Yinlou found comfort when Xiao Duo drew her close.
She shared a childhood memory of how her legitimate mother deprived her and her own mother of charcoal and bedding, and how her mother had promised her warm quilts and soup when she grew up. Now, she realized that simply having Xiao Duo beside her was warm enough. When Xiao Duo addressed her formally, she asked him to instead use her childhood name, Zhuo Ying.
Xiao Duo then admitted he had no courtesy name, as his family had perished in a locust plague, leaving no elders to give him one. He shared that the name Fang Jiang, from a classical text, felt fitting. Bu Yinlou, delighted by the phonetic similarity between Zhuo Ying and Fang Jiang, encouraged him to adopt it as his own. As she drifted to sleep, Xiao Duo leaned in and kissed her.
Immediately feeling it was improper, he pulled away and left the house to compose himself. The next morning, Bu Yinlou awoke from what she thought was a dream of Xiao Duo kissing her. She chastised herself for having such a bold dream, calling herself a "beast," yet felt a mix of confusion and delight. Finding Xiao Duo had slept outside, she felt guilty, assuming her snoring and teeth-grinding—habits her maid Tong Yun often complained about—had driven him away.
To make amends, she offered to make him fish soup, only to admit she couldn't fish. Amused, Xiao Duo handled the fishing, gutting, and cooking, while Bu Yinlou playfully took credit for the delicious result. Their peaceful morning was cut short when Cao Chunang and the guards arrived. Xiao Duo took Cao Chunang aside to discuss his plans.
His men, using a fake jade token, had confirmed the Prince of Nanyuan's illicit ties to local salt smugglers, verifying he was behind the attack. Recognizing the ongoing danger, Xiao Duo declared his intention to assassinate the Prince. He accepted the immense risk, acknowledging it was a capital crime and that with the Emperor's growing suspicion, even success might not guarantee his safety. He stated he never expected a long life and would ensure his actions didn't implicate his subordinates.
Cao Chunang, however, worried about what would happen to Bu Yinlou if he perished. Meanwhile, the Prince of Nanyuan, Yuwen Liangshi, was informed that Xiao Duo was missing after a pirate attack. He publicly agreed to help search but secretly ordered his men to kill Xiao Duo on sight.
In the palace, Princess Hede, known as Wanwan, brought the Emperor soup and tried to intercede for the young prince, Yuwen Liangxu, by telling a parable about an emperor who punished the families of his enemies. The Emperor saw through her ploy and sternly forbade her from contacting Yuwen Liangxu again, reminding her that his brother, Yuwen Liangshi, was a major threat and that as a princess of Great Ye, she and the Yuwen family were enemies.
Back at the official station, Bu Yinlou noticed Xiao Duo touching his ring, a gesture she knew meant he was deeply troubled. He confided in her about his sword, Denghuo, explaining its name meant the first of the Eight Hot Hells and that its previous owners all met bad ends. He confessed he was on an inescapable mission from which he might not return.
Understanding the gravity of his words, Bu Yinlou calmly asked if she should leave the door open for him, showing she would not try to stop him. While admitting her fear for him, she revealed that during her time guarding the mausoleum, she discovered in Buddhist scriptures that "Denghuo" has another name: "Geng Sheng," meaning Rebirth.
She told him it signifies being reborn after enduring the hells, and she promised to wait for him to lay down his sword and achieve that rebirth. They then shared a final piece of candy, sealing their bond.
