Episode 23 recap: Liu Yan expressed his feelings to Mu Zhuo Hua.
Mu Zhuo Hua thought that Sun Yun Yun's previous trivial matters could be overlooked, but now it was affecting the normal work of the Ministry of Revenue. If this continued, he couldn't just ignore it. Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager happened to arrive and felt that Mu Zhuo Hua was bullying a newcomer, so she punished him to kneel for an hour.
Liu Yan heard the news and hurried over with medicine for Mu Zhuo Hua's injuries. Sun Yun Yun, on the other hand, was watching Mu Zhuo Hua kneeling and felt extremely pleased. She stated that she must kneel for the full hour as demanded by the Empress Dowager. Mu Zhuo Hua told Sun Yun Yun that if she liked Liu Yan, she should go and pursue him instead of flaunting herself in front of him. Otherwise, he might think that Sun Yun Yun had feelings for him.
Sun Yun Yun thought that if Mu Zhuo Hua backed off, Liu Yan would notice her. Mu Zhuo Hua stated that he was himself, and Liu Yan was Liu Yan. It didn't matter to him whom Liu Yan wanted to marry. Just then, Liu Yan arrived with the medicine and overheard the conversation. He was furious and left without acknowledging Mu Zhuo Hua. He instructed Li Da Ren to give the medicine to Mu Zhuo Hua without mentioning that it was from him.
Li Da Ren handed the medicine to Mu Zhuo Hua, saying that he had plenty more and that Mu Zhuo Hua should keep it for personal use. Liu Yan ordered a replacement from the Ministry of Revenue to deliver the documents. Li Da Ren brought the documents, and Mu Zhuo Hua initially thought he would be the one to deliver them. However, Mu Zhuo Hua instructed Sun Yun Yun to do it, which made her very happy.
This happened several times in a row, leaving Mu Zhuo Hua feeling puzzled and unsure of what was going on. Sun Yun Yun followed Liu Yan and came over to hold an umbrella for him, mentioning that the weather was hot that day and advising him not to get heatstroke. Mu Zhuo Hua also witnessed this and thought that he wouldn't mind, but he actually felt very uncomfortable.
Mu Zhuo Hua taught the princes, and they mentioned the Empress Dowager's arrangement of marriage between Liu Yan and Sun Yun Yun, expressing that Sun Yun Yun had liked Liu Yan for so many years and finally got her wish. Mu Zhuo Hua felt deeply upset upon hearing this.
Guo Ju Li mentioned that today is the Qiqiao Festival, and although Mu Zhuo Hua didn't feel like celebrating, Guo Ju Li managed to persuade him to go out. Mu Zhuo Hua asked Guo Ju Li to go find Zhi Mo first, saying that he had something to attend to. Guo Ju Li brought some delicious food for Zhi Mo, and Zhi Jian saw it and commented that Zhi Mo clearly didn't like sweet treats, but he would say anything to please a girl.
Meanwhile, Mu Zhuo Hua released a sky lantern, using it as a symbol to prove that he had once loved Liu Yan. Liu Yan also arrived and stated that he had refused the Empress Dowager and was willing to remain unmarried for life. He had also clarified things with Sun Yun Yun. Liu Yan expressed that if someone truly loved another person, they wouldn't ask them to give up what they loved. If Mu Zhuo Hua didn't marry, he wouldn't marry either, and they would spend their lives together like that.
Liu Yan mentioned that he had promised the Empress Dowager and the Emperor that he wouldn't fall in love or marry, but now he had to break that promise. Mu Zhuo Hua was deeply moved and agreed to Liu Yan's proposal. Liu Yan took out the broken jade pendant from before and gave each of them a piece.
On the other side, Sun Yun Yun saw Mu Zhuo Hua and Liu Yan together and became so angry that she smashed the flute she was holding. The servants in the mansion also came to work but only found Guo Ju Li, who claimed not to know where Miss had gone. The next day, when Mu Zhuo Hua was getting ready, Guo Ju Li noticed the piece of jade pendant in Mu Zhuo Hua's hand. That's when Guo Ju Li realized that Mu Zhuo Hua and Liu Yan had reconciled. Mu Zhuo Hua even mentioned that Liu Yan would be his concubine and didn't care about the formalities, which essentially made him an unofficial concubine.
After returning home, Sun Yun Yun was sullen, and Lady Sun felt that Mu Zhuo Hua, being the daughter of a merchant, dared to compare herself to her daughter. Lady Sun mentioned Mu Zhuo Hua's change of identity, revealing that she was actually the seventh daughter of the wealthy Mu family in Jiangnan Huai Prefecture. Sun Yun Yun learned about this and immediately started plotting.
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