Unchained Love Episode 35 Recap
> Unchained Love Recap
On the day of the enthronement ceremony, as the Empress's procession moved through the bustling streets, a masked figure suddenly appeared. Yu Zun, mistaking the figure for Xiao Duo, immediately pursued, only to realize he had fallen for a diversion. While Yu Zun was drawn away, Xiao Duo effortlessly made his way to the Imperial carriage.
Inside, he discovered it was not Bu Yinlou, but Bu Yinge, who urgently warned him that the real Bu Yinlou was with Murong Gaogong in another carriage. Immediately after her warning, a volley of arrows rained down on the carriage. While Xiao Duo skillfully evaded them, the defenseless Bu Yinge was struck and killed. Witnessing her death, Xiao Duo was hit by an arrow in the ensuing chaos.
Murong Gaogong then emerged from a nearby carriage, taunting Xiao Duo to surrender and boasting that "Yinlou will be my Empress even if she dies." He also mocked Xiao Duo, claiming that he too was capable of such a switch, having learned it from Xiao Duo himself. Xiao Duo, no longer concealing himself, flung his hat aside and threw his short blade, but Murong Gaogong swiftly evaded it.
Enraged, Xiao Duo pulled the arrow from his chest and charged towards the carriage, only to find Bu Yinlou, drugged and held hostage by Murong Gaogong. Overcome with fury but unable to act with Bu Yinlou's life at stake, Xiao Duo was forced to drop his weapon, and Imperial Army soldiers quickly bound his head and limbs with ropes. Murong Gaogong then declared it a "big day" and ordered Xiao Duo to be publicly dismembered.
He further mocked Xiao Duo, stating that as a mere servant, he dared to disrespect royal power and disregard Heaven's authority. Xiao Duo defiantly retorted that he would not be treated as a slave or an object and vowed to contend with the highest authority in the world. As Murong Gaogong commanded the execution, he forced Bu Yinlou, who was slowly regaining consciousness, to watch, telling her not to cry but to "smile for me."
Distraught and appearing to descend into madness, Bu Yinlou suddenly burst into strange laughter, muttering a mournful poem about the brevity of life and the finality of death. Amidst the unfolding horror, voices from the crowd began to accuse Murong Gaogong of killing Prince Rong and usurping the throne, calling him "without benevolence and virtue" and a "foolish emperor."
Enraged by the public outcry, Murong Gaogong frantically ordered Yu Zun to kill the dissenting citizens to prevent the news from spreading. In the ensuing chaos, Cao Chunang, riding swiftly, appeared and expertly severed the ropes binding Xiao Duo. Unleashed, Xiao Duo swiftly overwhelmed the Imperial Army soldiers in his path. However, as he neared Bu Yinlou, he could only watch helplessly as she descended into a state of madness.
Yu Zun rushed to Murong Gaogong's defense, while Qilang quickly pulled Xiao Duo away from the scene. Later that night, Cao Chunang remained unusually silent. When others finally focused on him, they found him gravely wounded, his face pale.
As they waited for a physician, Cao Chunang, appearing to be on the verge of death, bid an emotional farewell, telling Xiao Duo that he always considered him an older brother and entrusting Tong Yun to his care, pleading with him to protect her. However, just as everyone was overcome with grief, Xiao Duo abruptly stopped crying and nudged Cao Chunang, revealing that he was not dead, merely playing a trick.
Though not as energetic as before, Cao Chunang was still very much alive. Tong Yun was overjoyed and embraced him, while Qilang, feeling foolish for shedding so many tears, playfully threatened Cao Chunang for the elaborate deception. Rumors about Murong Gaogong murdering Prince Rong spread like wildfire throughout the land. Panic-stricken, Murong Gaogong summoned his ministers to discuss a response.
When a minister suggested a thorough investigation into Prince Rong's death to clear His Majesty's name, Murong Gaogong flew into a murderous rage and publicly stabbed the minister to death. The Empress Dowager rushed to intervene, condemning Murong Gaogong as immoral, cruel, and unfit to rule, and threatening to issue a decree to depose him. Murong Gaogong dismissed her as confused and ordered her confined to Shouhe Palace, forbidding her from leaving.
Even Eunuch Sun, pleading with Murong Gaogong to stop and "not make more mistakes," was brutally killed by the Emperor, who declared that anyone who defied his will deserved to die. He then dissolved the morning court, ordering all memorials to be sent directly to Shangqiong Palace. Upon learning that Bu Yinlou had been confined to Futu Pagoda, Xiao Duo resolved to rescue her.
He knew it would be difficult, as most of the palace guards had been transferred to Shangqiong Palace to protect Murong Gaogong from Xiao Duo's feared assassination attempt. Just as they pondered their next move, Wan Wan sent a secret message. Citing her brother's tyranny and her empathy for Yinlou's suffering, she offered to help devise a rescue plan, suggesting communication via a specific brick at Xihua Gate. Xiao Duo was initially wary of her motives.
Meanwhile, Murong Gaogong frequently visited Bu Yinlou in Futu Pagoda, tormenting her and questioning her sanity. He asked Yu Zun if Bu Yinlou was truly mad, and Yu Zun suggested that Wan Wan, who was close to Bu Yinlou, could test her. Murong Gaogong summoned Wan Wan.
Wan Wan, feigning regret for her past behavior and expressing a desire to reconcile with her brother due to their shared blood, conveyed to Yu Zun her wish to return to Murong Gaogong's side, hinting at a way to do so without arousing his suspicion. Murong Gaogong then bluntly reminded Wan Wan that she was not only his sister but also his subject, and she had no choice but to obey him.
Wan Wan, maintaining her facade of loyalty, promised to do whatever he asked. Pleased, Murong Gaogong promised to lift her house arrest once the matter was settled, allowing her access to Bu Yinlou.
