Unchained Love Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
> Unchained Love Recap
To ascertain if Yinlou was truly mad, Murong Gaogong, acting on Yu Zun’s advice, brought Wanwan with him to Futu Pagoda. Wanwan presented the Fish Immortal to Yinlou, falsely claiming that Xiao Duo had fled and abandoned her. Yinlou clutched the Fish Immortal, repeating a strange poem about dew on leaves that dries and falls again, and the finality of death.
Witnessing Yinlou's disoriented state, Murong Gaogong became flustered and quickly left the pagoda, muttering to himself that it was impossible he had driven her mad. Clutching the Fish Immortal, Yinlou seemed to be praying. She then noticed something amiss and carefully inspected the inside of the Fish Immortal, discovering a hidden note. The note cryptically indicated that "Life in the tower has no hope, and days drag on like years," and that someone was "calculating the time."
Later, when palace maids brought her food, Yinlou instructed them to light all the candles, and once alone, she stealthily collected the melted candle oil. That night, several Kongming lanterns soared into the distance, appearing as distant stars in the dark sky. Yinlou knew these were symbols of hope and comfort sent by Xiao Duo, and a faint smile touched her lips.
Meanwhile, Xiao Duo instructed his men, including Qilang, to prepare the lanterns, emphasizing they should be "exciting and spectacular" and "catch everyone's eye," an effort some jokingly remarked was typical of Xiao Duo's "fancy gimmicks" to please a woman, though they conceded the lanterns were beautiful. Rumors ran rampant throughout Great Ye. The Grand Secretariat reported countless casualties and widespread fury among the populace following the coronation.
The prefectural office of Hongzhou reported a severe locust plague in the Jiangnan coastal area, with relief funds delayed, leading to riots that the army struggled to suppress. The Ministry of War accused the Ministry of Revenue of embezzling emergency military funds needed to combat rampaging pirates in the Ryukyus. These urgent reports were delayed because many officials had taken sick leave or retired since Murong Gaogong abolished morning assemblies.
Murong Gaogong mused bitterly that without Xiao Duo, he felt like "nothing." He confessed that without Chief Xiao, he wouldn't have ascended to the throne or saved Yinlou, lamenting that Xiao Duo was a "useful weapon" whose absence left him unable to suppress "all the devils and demons." His heart sank as he sat alone in the grand hall, and he awoke from a nightmare where Yinlou, holding a lantern, briefly illuminated his dark corner before vanishing like ashes.
He wondered if everything before him was merely an illusion. When informed that the widow of Imperial Physician Li, whom he had executed after the physician treated his injury at Deer's Reed Residence, was spreading rumors that he was severely injured and "could no longer have children," Murong Gaogong surprisingly found this "great news." Wanwan, discovering Murong Gaogong was heavily consuming Cold Food Powder, was furious.
She confronted him, accusing him of self-abandonment and neglecting his duty to protect the people as Emperor. Murong Gaogong, however, seemed indifferent, lamenting that everyone mocked him and that he was now unprotected and unsupported, questioning what happened to Great Ye had to do with him. Unable to sway him, Wanwan proposed holding a Lantern Festival in the palace to bring some good luck, which Murong Gaogong indifferently accepted.
The palace was soon bustling with lanterns, with Meng Jieyu proudly presenting a magnificent lantern crafted with rare materials and intricate mechanisms, costing a small fortune. Security checks for these elaborate lanterns were rigorous, requiring complete dismantling if suspicions arose, a detail that served Xiao Duo’s plan. As Murong Gaogong gazed at the myriad of lanterns, his thoughts drifted to the past, when he was just the Lantern Prince and Yinlou would smile at him.
Overwhelmed by emotion, he decided to visit Yinlou at Futu Pagoda. Xiao Duo and his men, having ingeniously concealed themselves within the large lanterns presented by Meng Jieyu, successfully entered the palace. As they neared Futu Pagoda, Murong Gaogong unexpectedly appeared. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not open the tower door. Instead, he spoke to Yinlou through the closed door, reminiscing about their past.
He mentioned he had once wanted to invite her to the festival and forgive her mistakes. Now, however, he had resolved to keep her "forever" by his side by sealing the entire tower, explaining that this way, she would "be able to stay by my side forever," never to be apart for eternity, even if it meant she wouldn't survive. Before leaving, he deliberately dropped the key outside the door.
Inside the pagoda, with all doors and windows sealed, Yinlou, left with no alternative, retrieved the candle oil she had hidden and set the tower ablaze. Xiao Duo appeared just in time, kicking open the tower door and rescuing Yinlou. As they fled, Xiao Duo cast his Denghuo sword into the flames, declaring that with Yinlou, he was "reborn" and no longer needed the burdensome symbol of his past life as the Chief of Zhaoding Bureau.
Yinlou playfully chided him for his impracticality. They escaped to the Lantern Festival but were soon confronted by the Imperial Army. Xiao Duo quickly shielded Yinlou, then pulled her behind a rock formation. Yu Zun seemed to notice their hiding spot, lingering there for a long moment in thought, before feigning ignorance and walking away, intentionally allowing them to escape. Yinlou later speculated if Yu Zun had "gone mad" too, but Xiao Duo urged her to keep moving.
Meanwhile, Murong Gaogong, leaning on a cane, walked with Wanwan when two masked figures, Xiao Duo and Yinlou, approached. He immediately called out to them, ordering them to turn around and remove their masks. The two figures remained motionless. Murong Gaogong grew impatient and reached out to forcibly pull off their masks, causing tension to grip the onlookers, ready for a confrontation. Just then, Yu Zun rushed over, shouting that Futu Pagoda was on fire, creating a sudden diversion.
Amidst the ensuing chaos, Yinlou and Xiao Duo seized the opportunity and fled towards the palace exit. They reflected on the Imperial City, describing it as a "prison forged from wealth and power," acknowledging their limited ability to change the world, and concluding that their only hope was to "flee towards the rising sun," determined to make the attempt. Murong Gaogong stood fixated on the burning Futu Pagoda, lost in thought.
After some time, Yu Zun returned to report, stating he had found "Consort Duan's body." Murong Gaogong's face remained expressionless, and he slowly turned to leave. However, after only a few steps, he collapsed to the ground, as if all his past burdens and illusions crumbled with him at that moment.
