Unchained Love Episode 24 Recap
> Unchained Love Recap
Despite the emotional pain caused by Bu Yinlou's words the previous night, which led him to forbid Cao Chunang from even uttering her name, Xiao Duo found himself unable to stop thinking about her. He secretly dispatched She Da Dangtou to keep watch over Deer's Reed Residence. She Da Dangtou reported that Empress Rong'an had bribed the Madam-in-charge, covertly plotting to harm Bu Yinlou.
Yet, Bu Yinlou appeared quite well, eating and drinking heartily, displaying great cheerfulness and energy, even playing leaf tag with the palace maids. However, She Da Dangtou also revealed that Bu Yinlou asked seven or eight times a day when the Imperial City would send someone, seemingly awaiting His Majesty, which deeply angered Xiao Duo.
Returning to his chamber, Xiao Duo initially cast aside all items belonging to Bu Yinlou, including even Eunuch Ba, whom he had ordered to be put away. Yet, this surge of resentment was fleeting, quickly overwhelmed by an uncontrollable surge of affection. Xiao Duo soon reversed his actions, retrieving her boots, which he then put on, and the leaf tags, which he placed in his sleeve, before releasing Eunuch Ba to play.
He gazed around his courtyard, where every detail seemed to reflect Bu Yinlou's presence, as if she had never departed. He wondered if she truly abandoned her past pursuit of freedom and willingly resigned herself to confinement in the deep palace. Despite all, Xiao Duo remained unwilling to accept it. Cao Chunang, equally unwilling to accept the situation, held a hairpin, his gaze filled with sorrow. He eventually mustered the courage to ask She Da Dangtou about Tong Yun.
To his dismay, he learned that Tong Yun had offended Murong Gaogong, had been flogged, and was now suffering punishment at the Dyeing Workshop. Deeply concerned, Cao Chunang hurried to the Dyeing Workshop to arrange matters with the overseers, hoping to ease Tong Yun's plight. Upon entering, he saw Tong Yun at work, her frail body appearing as if it could be blown away by a gust of wind.
His heart ached at the sight of the calluses and blisters on her hands, and he gently took her hands to blow on them. Tong Yun could no longer hold back her tears, sobbing with profound grievance. Amidst her tears, she nearly revealed that Bu Yinlou had suffered greatly and questioned why Xiao Duo, her godfather, had not intervened. Later, Bu Yinlou seized an opportunity to slip away to the palace wall, intending to climb over and escape.
Unexpectedly, she encountered Murong Wanwan and Yuwen Liangxu, who were attempting to climb in. Murong Wanwan revealed that she had learned Empress Rong'an bribed Suhuai, a maid in Deer's Reed Residence, prompting her concern for Bu Yinlou's safety and her daring attempt to enter. Bu Yinlou, however, revealed that she was already aware of these details.
She further explained to Murong Wanwan that her intention was to provoke Rong'an into making a move, creating an opportunity for a private interrogation to extract crucial information. She then asked to borrow Murong Wanwan's grappling hook and throwing stars for her plan. Murong Wanwan and Yuwen Liangxu, despite their apprehension, agreed to assist her in this dangerous endeavor. Bu Yinlou then proceeded with her plan, slipping out of Deer's Reed Residence.
As expected, she was met by Empress Rong'an's hired kidnappers. Bu Yinlou was secretly thrilled, eagerly climbing into the sedan chair, fearing the kidnappers might reconsider. Murong Wanwan and Yuwen Liangxu had also prepared, ready to spring a trap on Rong'an. However, She Da Dangtou unexpectedly intervened, startling Bu Yinlou and disrupting her carefully laid plan. Annoyed yet quick-witted, Bu Yinlou quickly adapted her plan.
Using Xiao Duo's ring as a symbol of authority, she convinced She Da Dangtou to help her kidnap Empress Rong'an instead. She reasoned that by obeying her in this specific way, he was still fulfilling Xiao Duo's secret command to protect her, without informing him of the day's events. She then instructed him not to send her back to Deer's Reed Residence, but to take them to a dilapidated house in the imperial city's suburbs, which was Rong'an's pre-arranged destination.
Meanwhile, Murong Gaogong quietly made his way to Deer's Reed Residence, intending to surprise Bu Yinlou. Upon arriving, he discovered her absence. Informed by guards that Bu Yinlou had seemingly escaped, Murong Gaogong, enraged and believing that only Xiao Duo could have the ability to abduct someone from his heavily guarded residence, furiously stormed into Xiao Duo's Chief's residence. He sternly interrogated Xiao Duo, drawing his sword and threatening his life.
Xiao Duo, however, remained composed and defiant, expressing his willingness to accept any punishment while requesting permission to search for Bu Yinlou. At that moment, a guard arrived with the news that Bu Yinlou had been found. At the dilapidated house, Empress Rong'an slowly regained consciousness, discovering herself bound hand and foot with Bu Yinlou seated beside her.
Bu Yinlou brandished a bottle of powdered medicine, which she implied was the very poison Rong'an had intended for her, remarking that she had prepared it according to Rong'an's own prescription. Rong'an, in a fit of anger and fear, warned Bu Yinlou against rash actions. Unperturbed, Bu Yinlou mocked Rong'an, describing her as pitiful for clinging to Xiao Duo, who showed her no affection, and asserting that Rong'an was devoid of anything but jealousy, scheming, and hatred.
Rong'an retaliated by stressing her noble status as Empress, contrasting it with Bu Yinlou's supposedly lowly background, but Bu Yinlou firmly declared her own inherent nobility. Bu Yinlou then threatened to kill Rong'an in that secluded spot, where her death would remain unknown to the palace. Panicked, Rong'an pleaded for release, promising to yield to all of Bu Yinlou's demands. Bu Yinlou then questioned Rong'an about the secret meetings held by the Prince of Nanyuan six years prior.
Rong'an initially feigned ignorance but eventually confessed that she and the Prince of Nanyuan had conspired at a teahouse in Ruyi Alley during the late Emperor's birthday celebrations. The interrogation was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of Murong Wanwan and Yuwen Liangxu, who relayed urgent news: Murong Gaogong had unexpectedly arrived at Deer's Reed Residence with the Imperial Army and was now making his way to Xiao Duo's residence.
