Episode 16 recap: Mu Zhuo Hua avoids Liu Yan
Mu Zhuo Hua avoids Liu Yan and he asks her why she keeps running away, wondering if he is some kind of terrifying beast. Mu Zhuo Hua assures Liu Yan that he is not a terrifying beast, but he unsettles her. The Crown Prince informs Mu Zhuo Hua that he has already spoken to the Emperor, and she can go back to her teaching. Liu Yan asks if Mu Zhuo Hua has made a decision.
Mu Zhuo Hua and Liu Yan arrange a meeting with the third prince. The third prince expresses surprise at how much Liu Yan values his own life now. Liu Yan asks if the third prince has ever tasted human blood, and the third prince admits that he has. Liu Yan shares a story about a subordinate who was also his mentor. On the battlefield, that person trusted him completely and even exposed his back to him. During a major defeat, Liu Yan cut his wrist, held his bleeding wrist to his own face, and forced the blood into his mouth. He eventually passed out, and when he woke up, there were hardly any survivors. He didn't know how many lives and efforts were entrusted to him. Liu Yan explains that if the third prince carried the weight of so many lives, he would also cherish his own life greatly.
Liu Yan suggests that the third prince must have some status within the military to acquire such information. However, since they didn't pursue the enemy after their victory, it's evident that they have no knowledge of what happened afterward. The person they are dealing with is beyond their control. Liu Yan proposes a trade with the third prince: if he reveals what he knows, Liu Yan can guarantee ten years without war.
The Third Prince refused, and Mu Zhuo Hua said that the Third Prince and his party were packing their belongings, indicating that they wanted to leave early. Liu Yan believed that something must have happened at the royal tent. If the Third Prince was here for negotiations, then only the Crown Prince and the Second Prince would be at the royal tent. The Third Prince agreed and said that Xue Xiao Tang was the one who provided the information.
The Third Prince left first, and Liu Yan asked Mu Zhuo Hua why she was running away again. She noticed that Mu Zhuo Hua had been avoiding her lately, wondering if she was some kind of ferocious beast. Mu Zhuo Hua assured Liu Yan that she was not a ferocious beast but admitted that she felt unsettled around her. Mu Zhuo Hua believed that the Third Prince was not sincere about the negotiations, and Liu Yan naturally knew that as well, but she wouldn't let him have his way.
The Third Prince would be returning soon and asked Ye Mu Zhen to stay here and enjoy herself. He reminded her not to forget the suffering of her people. The Third Prince said that he had lit a fire and would add more fuel at the appropriate time. Ye Mu Zhen thought of Shen Jing Hong and believed that as long as there was fuel, it would be enough.
Mu Zhuo Hua encountered Liu Yan and the Crown Prince in the main hall. Liu Yan asked why Mu Zhuo Hua was avoiding her, but Mu Zhuo Hua quickly denied it. The Crown Prince said that he had something to discuss with Mu Zhuo Hua and informed her that he had already spoken to the Emperor about it. He told Mu Zhuo Hua that she could go back to continue her studies. Mu Zhuo Hua felt that the Crown Prince treated people sincerely and wondered if this was the true nature of the Academy. Liu Yan overheard this and wondered if this was the reason why Mu Zhuo Hua had been distant from her.
Liu Yan asked Mu Zhuo Hua about the matter she had discussed earlier and whether she had made a decision. Liu Yan stated that she couldn't interfere in the struggles between the princes, as it was evident from the previous incident of being punished. Mu Zhuo Hua felt that being around Liu Yan would only lead to more chaos and prevent her from focusing on her career. Liu Yan realized that Mu Zhuo Hua had made up her mind and didn't say anything further.
Mu Zhuo Hua prepared food and wanted to find Liu Yan, but the housekeeper said that Liu Yan was resting. The Emperor received a confidential report about a locust plague in Jiangnan and was deeply concerned for the people. The Crown Prince expressed his willingness to provide disaster relief. The Emperor agreed, believing that he would learn a lot from this experience and referred to Shen Jing Hong and Liu Yan as his left and right arms. The Emperor acknowledged that Mu Zhuo Hua was indeed a talented individual, and the Crown Prince acknowledged that he now understood and appreciated his uncle's discerning eye, thankful that he hadn't missed out.
Mu Zhuo Hua was about to leave and bid farewell to Liu Yan, but Liu Yan hadn't returned. Mu Zhuo Hua waited for a long time, but Liu Yan still didn't come back. She had no choice but to leave. When Liu Yan returned and learned that Mu Zhuo Hua had left, she quickly mounted a horse and tried to catch up, but she was too late.
Comments(Episode 16)