Untouchable Lovers Episode 17 Recap
> Untouchable Lovers Recap
Ma Xueyun's beloved was none other than Rong Zhi. Rong Zhi not only arrived in time, catching her while also catching the embroidered ball. Meanwhile, in the Anle Palace, the struggle for the Regent position also had a result. Prime Minister Ma Zhongliang recounted an event from many years ago. Many years ago, he had asked King Kang and King Changli a question: what should be done if Great Wei one day fell into dire straits?
King Kang replied that the common people were the most important. King Changli, however, showed a pained expression, because if such a situation arose, it would mean the Tuoba clan had already fallen into danger, hence his sorrow. After Ma Zhongliang's words, King Changli was elected Regent. And Ma Zhongliang suddenly spoke words favorable to Rong Zhi. This was because he saw a small embroidered ball in the hand of the palace maid who was serving tea to the Emperor.
This was a message being passed to him, telling him that the embroidered ball marriage proposal had succeeded. Ma Zhongliang returned home and happened to see Rong Zhi and his daughter engaged in an intimate conversation. He threatened Rong Zhi with the position of Regent, saying that if he insisted on being with Ma Xueyun, his regency would be jeopardized. Unexpectedly, Rong Zhi chose Ma Xueyun without hesitation.
However, twists and turns often occur; Ma Zhongliang had long ago devised a plan with his daughter. One was the matter of the embroidered ball marriage proposal, the other was the struggle for the regency. If Rong Zhi stayed in the palace for the regency, then he certainly would not be sincere towards Ma Xueyun.
If he had just now given up Ma Xueyun because of Ma Zhongliang's temptation, the outcome would be even more obvious: he would have hurt Ma Zhongliang's only daughter, and Ma Zhongliang would surely not let him off lightly. Yet Rong Zhi chose Ma Xueyun both times, thereby earning Ma Zhongliang's loyalty.
On the other side, Tuoba Yun learned that Rong Zhi had not only secured the position of Regent but was also going to marry Prime Minister Ma's only daughter. He was furious, as that position of power, second only to the emperor, should have been his. However, Consort Qi felt it was not worth getting angry over.
Tuoba Yun's defeat this time was in not winning the Prime Minister's only daughter's heart, but as long as he could marry that woman, the outcome would certainly be no worse than Rong Zhi's. In the rebel camp, the rebel leader Xue Xian sat imposingly. He had captured many respectable women for his amusement. He only saw the immediate results of his victories but was completely unaware that his greatest opponent, Huo Xuan, was hidden among these very people.
Huo Xuan was a general of Great Wei's Huo Family Army, a valiant heroine of her generation, clad in blue robes and armor, heroic and spirited. She personally entered the enemy camp, seized the initiative, used poisonous bees to decisively defeat Xue Xian, and lifted the siege of Jingzhou. However, before she could even celebrate, she received the news that Rong Zhi was going to marry Ma Xueyun.
The reason this news traveled so quickly from Pingcheng, the capital of Great Wei, to Huo Xuan was Tuoba Yun's doing. Huo Xuan was the very person he wanted to marry to contend with Rong Zhi. Tuoba Yun waited on the path Huo Xuan was sure to take into Pingcheng and made a heartfelt confession to her.
However, Huo Xuan, who could move freely among thousands of soldiers, was not someone who could be swayed by a few sweet words or direct instigation. The difference between Tuoba Yun and Rong Zhi was that Rong Zhi had never tried to turn Huo Xuan into an ordinary woman, which was also why Huo Xuan liked Rong Zhi.
Huo Xuan arrived in Pingcheng late one night after a continuous night march, only to be stopped outside the city by Tiger Ben General Shen Yu. Shen Yu, entrusted by Rong Zhi, stopped Huo Xuan and conveyed a message for him. He told Huo Xuan that he would never forget the camaraderie they shared since childhood, but given the current situation, he had to marry Ma Xueyun.
Huo Xuan was persuaded, but she firmly believed that no matter how many women Rong Zhi married, only she could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Huo Xuan left resolutely. Shen Yu felt a pang of sympathy for her tireless night travel.
But Rong Zhi had his own considerations: military officials outside the capital were not allowed to return to Pingcheng without a summons, and if Huo Xuan entered the city, it was hard to guarantee that the Emperor would not overthink it. On the other side, Tuoba Yun, having failed to win Huo Xuan's favor, was in a depressed mood. His attendant Qi Heng informed him that He Shan, the envoy from Great Song, had arrived, thus diverting his attention.
In the Anle Palace, He Shan presented three wooden carved dolls, each hiding a profound secret. If no one could decipher them, Great Wei would have to cede some capitals to Great Song; if someone could solve them, then peace talks would be easily managed. Rong Zhi and Tuoba Yun deciphered them simultaneously.
Tuoba Yun spoke first, stating that he believed the three dolls symbolized three types of people: those born with long tongues (gossips), those extremely muddled, and those with inner depth, with only the last being the most precious. Rong Zhi, however, believed the symbolic meaning of the three dolls was frankness, freedom from worries, and trustworthiness, each having its own merits, though the frank doll was rather cute.
He Shan smiled; Rong Zhi's explanation was most in line with the Song Princess's intentions. According to the princess's wishes, she wanted to form a marital alliance with Rong Zhi to forever maintain peace between the two nations. Tuoba Yun thought that Rong Zhi marrying the Song Princess would surely offend Ma Zhongliang, so he was in high spirits. He immediately ordered gifts to be prepared, intending to personally go to the Ma residence to propose marriage to Ma Xueyun.
At this moment, in the Ma residence, Ma Xueyun, learning of Rong Zhi's marriage alliance, was heartbroken and tore up the wedding dress she had personally sewn. Rong Zhi knew she would be sad and specially came to comfort her, telling her he could give up everything for her and take her away. Ma Xueyun's tears turned to a smile, but she was immediately stopped by Ma Zhongliang.
He told Rong Zhi to prioritize the bigger picture; the current Emperor was devoted to Buddhist rituals, and one day Rong Zhi might very well advance further. Given the current situation, he didn't mind his daughter suffering a little by marrying Rong Zhi as a concubine. Rong Zhi was persuaded. Meanwhile, Tuoba Yun, upon hearing this news, was filled with resentment and vowed to be irreconcilable with Rong Zhi.
