Unchained Love Episode 3 Recap
> Unchained Love Recap
At the funeral for the late emperor, all the concubines gathered to light the long lanterns. Bu Yinlou, aiming to stall the Empress, deliberately created a disturbance by dropping her lantern, which set the Empress's gown aflame. The Empress, startled and furious, quickly ordered her attendants to help her change. Before she could investigate the culprit, news arrived that Prince Rong was missing from Fengyi Palace.
Realizing she had been used by Xiao Duo, Bu Yinlou feared that if he fell into the Empress's hands, he would expose her. Driven by this concern, she resolved to find Xiao Duo and ensure Prince Rong's safe departure from the palace. The palace gates were locked in the evening, with only the Xihua Gate remaining open throughout the night due to the late Emperor's funeral rituals.
Bu Yinlou deduced that Xiao Duo would have to use this gate to leave and could only hide in one specific place if delayed. She instructed her maid, Tong Yun, to kneel in her place while she feigned a trip to the toilet. As Bu Yinlou hurried away, she heard Prince Rong's cries for help, confirming his presence nearby. Bu Yinlou found Xiao Duo attempting to persuade Prince Rong, who vehemently refused to go with him.
The prince accused Xiao Duo of being the Empress's accomplice and feared being returned to Fengyi Palace, where his mother had been killed by the Empress. Bu Yinlou intervened, initially feigning to alert the Empress's men but then revealing her knowledge of Prince Rong's identity and Xiao Duo's mission from Prince Fu. Seeing Prince Rong's persistent fear, Bu Yinlou used an analogy, comparing life to a game of cards.
She gave him a Madiao card depicting "Prince Rong, the Zhenxiong Crown Prince," with skills like "rolling and crying," explaining that when all else fails, one must trust the one card that can turn the tide. She asserted that Xiao Duo was his only card for survival. Convinced, Prince Rong finally agreed to leave with him. Just as they were about to escape, the Empress arrived.
Bu Yinlou pushed Xiao Duo and Prince Rong into hiding, then knelt outside and loudly confessed to accidentally setting the Empress's dress on fire. She feigned clumsiness, exaggerated her poverty by complaining about reduced allowances, and even revealed she had drawn the Empress onto a Madiao card, dubbing her 'Empress Rong'an, the Queen of Phoenix,' with the skill 'fighting for favor in the harem.'
Enraged but with more urgent matters at hand, the Empress dismissed Bu Yinlou's antics and ordered a thorough search of the area. This distraction bought Xiao Duo and Prince Rong enough time to slip away. After a fruitless search, the Empress realized she had been duped by Bu Yinlou. Enraged, she went to Bu Yinlou's residence to interrogate and execute her.
At that critical moment, Princess Hede arrived, feigning sternness and ordering Bu Yinlou to Shouhe Palace for punishment, citing the Empress Dowager's displeasure. Bu Yinlou understood the ruse and followed. As they walked, Princess Hede explained she had obtained a real imperial decree to make the act convincing but intended only to rescue her. Bu Yinlou deduced Xiao Duo had arranged it.
Princess Hede, curious about their relationship, was charmed by Bu Yinlou's wit and asked her to use her nickname, Wanwan, in private. Meanwhile, Prince Rong was safely delivered to Prince Fu's residence. Xiao Duo immediately instructed Cao Chun'ang to dispatch an elite team to guard the mansion and personally visited key ministers to inform them that the Empress's faction was losing its advantage, urging them to align with Prince Fu.
The next morning, rumors spread that the Cabinet intended to install Prince Fu as regent. The Empress, startled, suspected Xiao Duo's betrayal. Soon after, Yan Sunlang informed her that Xiao Duo had colluded with Prince Fu and that Bu Yinlou, whom Xiao Duo had saved from ritual sacrifice, was his accomplice. Claiming loyalty, Yan Sunlang offered to serve the Empress in exchange for becoming Chief of Zhaoding Bureau.
The Empress accepted and ordered her spies withdrawn from Prince Fu's mansion, while dispatching a message to the Prince of Nanyuan. Aware of this, Xiao Duo devised a plan to lure the Prince of Nanyuan, Yuwen Liangshi, to the scenic spot of Zhongshan to assassinate him. He also instructed Cao Chun'ang to procure gifts to personally thank Princess Hede.
A few days later, while Bu Yinlou and Princess Hede were playing Imperial Madiao, Prince Fu, having crafted several lanterns for Bu Yinlou, defied Xiao Duo's guards to visit her. Frustrated with the guards, Prince Fu accused Xiao Duo of breaking promises and acting like a jailer. When he finally met Bu Yinlou, he eagerly presented a wooden lotus lantern he had made himself. However, Bu Yinlou feigned no recollection of him, despite his claims of a past meeting.
Her humorous guesses about his identity—suggesting he was someone she owed money to, had kicked into a pond, or whose cartwheels she had sabotaged—deeply embarrassed and upset him. In his distress, he stumbled and fell into a lotus pond. A dejected Prince Fu returned to his residence, but Eunuch Sun confronted Bu Yinlou, demanding accountability.
Xiao Duo intervened, reminding Eunuch Sun of the serious trouble it would cause if the Empress discovered such an incident during the mourning rituals, thus suppressing the matter. Later, Xiao Duo decided to leverage Bu Yinlou's influence over Prince Fu by making her his "eye" within the prince's circle. He abruptly stopped and turned to face her, causing a startled Bu Yinlou to stumble and inadvertently draw his sword.
Xiao Duo then presented her with two choices: cooperate by accepting Prince Fu's affections, or face death. To persuade her, he had his men bring lavish gifts—gold emblems, an ivory incense burner, ornate vases, and a vast array of jewelry—promising her unparalleled luxury and a grander palace in exchange for her allegiance. However, Bu Yinlou remained unmoved, dismissing the treasures as "fleeting illusions" and declaring she was already "sick of wealth." Exasperated, Xiao Duo ordered everyone out of the room, signaling his intention to deal with her refusal privately and decisively.
