Episode 18 recap: Gong Zi Yu insisted on protecting Yun Wei Shan comprehensively.
Gong Yuan Zheng and his group came to Xue Zhong Zi to demand Gong Zi Yu. Gong Zi Yu appeared and asked Xue Zhong Zi if he agreed to Yun Wei Shan's request for several Snow Lotus flowers. Xue Zhong Zi said he knew it was the executioner who sent her, so she should take care of it herself. However, as he mentioned, there were dangers in the pond, and she was seriously injured. Gong Zi Shang stated that he took the risk of damaging his reputation to meet Xiao Hei (Xue Zhong Zi), hoping that he would accompany her to steal something. When Xiao Hei learned that it was related to the Elder's Court, he immediately fled.
Gong Shang Jue suspected that Yun Que was killed in the explosion (and the Bai Cao Cui was taken back to Wufeng by her). Shang Guan Qian promised Gong Shang Jue that if he helped her kill Dianzhu, she would give everything she had. Jin Fan stopped Gong Yuan Zheng from spreading the news, and they fought. During the fight, Gong Yuan Zheng sent out a distress signal. Gong Shang Jue came to rescue him, and Gong Zi Yu and Jin Fan, along with Yue Zhang Lao, incapacitated Gong Yuan Zheng by sealing his acupoints.
Gong Shang Jue entered the room to search for Gong Yuan Zheng's whereabouts, and the others claimed they hadn't seen him. He sensed that Gong Yuan Zheng was hiding in the wardrobe. At this moment, Gong Yuan Zheng intentionally bit his tongue and emitted the smell of blood, allowing Gong Shang Jue to locate and rescue him. Gong Yuan Zheng demanded that his acupoints be immediately released, otherwise the entire Yugong would be in chaos.
Yun Wei Shan released Gong Yuan Zheng's acupoints and recognized the technique of the Clear Wind Sect. Gong Shang Jue and Gong Yuan Zheng saw through Yun Wei Shan's identity and tried to capture her. Gong Zi Yu tried to stop them, and Yue Zhang Lao helped Yun Wei Shan cultivate her energy when he saw that she was injured. Gong Zi Yu and Yue Zhang Lao attempted to rescue Yun Wei Shan but were overpowered by their opponents, Jiao and Zhi.
Shang Guan Qian unintentionally recalled her intimate encounters with Gong Shang Jue and realized that she had developed feelings for him. Yun Wei Shan was poisoned by a hidden weapon from Gong Yuan Zheng and fled to the back mountain, where Xue Zhong Zi helped her.
Gong Zi Yu, Gong Shang Jue, and the others arrived at the Executioner's Hall and were reprimanded by the two senior elders. Gong Shang Jue intruded into the Yugong and injured the executioner, violating the palace rules. Gong Shang Jue explained that Yun Wei Shan was a spy from Wufeng, and Gong Yuan Zheng personally confirmed the secret between them. Gong Shang Jue also suspected Yue Zhang Lao's involvement and demanded that he hand over the Shi Yan Cao. Gong Zi Yu knew that Gong Shang Jue was skilled in rhetoric and manipulation, and he deliberately framed those with ulterior motives.
Gong Yuan Zheng witnessed a guard being drugged and himself being injured by Jin Fan. He couldn't explain when the guard was drugged, why Jin Fan wasn't affected, and why he sneaked into Yugong late at night. He was left speechless by a series of questions and doubts.
Gong Shang Jue systematically debunked the details of Gong Zi Yu's accusations. Jin Fan wasn't affected by the drug because he had consumed Bai Cao Cui. Although the Shi Yan Cao was used up, Yue Zhang Lao could write a prescription. However, Yue Zhang Lao stated that it was part of his private research and couldn't be disclosed. At this point, the elders believed that all achievements belonged to the palace, and Gong Yuan Zheng's hidden weapon records were also archived but not publicly available. Xue Zhong Zi removed the hidden weapon, but Yun Wei Shan remained unconscious. Yue Zhang Lao wrote down the Shi Yan Cao prescription, but Gong Yuan Zheng noticed that the ingredients in it took years to bear fruit and couldn't be matched. Xue Zhong Zi used multiple precious Xue Lian flowers to save Yun Wei Shan.
Jin Fan had Gong Zi Shang sneak into the Elder's Hall in advance to steal Gong Yuan Zheng's hidden weapon formula, so they could find a cure for the poison on Yun Wei Shan. Gong Yuan Zheng brought everyone to the back mountain to find Xue Zhong Zi, and Gong Zi Yu approached them and asked if they obtained the Xue Lian flowers. Xue Zhong Zi understood his meaning and explained that she had personally picked the Xue Lian flowers according to the executioner's request, but there was no danger to her life. In order to capture Yun Wei Shan quickly, Gong Yuan Zheng intentionally walked through the river and trampled on Xue Zhong Zi's lotus flowers. Xue Gong Zi handed the jade pendant to Gong Zi Yu and hurried to Qianshan to find Gong Zi Shang for the antidote. Gong Zi Yu used the jade pendant to enter a secret room, while Gong Yuan Zheng was locked outside. Knowing that her time was limited, Yun Wei Shan asked Gong Zi Yu to surrender her to protect his innocence as the executioner, but Gong Zi Yu already considered her his wife and wouldn't allow anyone to harm her.
Gong Zi Shang couldn't enter the Elder's Hall, so he used a kite to signal Xiao Hei to come. They entered the Elder's Hall together with the help of Xiao Hei and Yue Zhang Lao, and obtained Gong Yuan Zheng's hidden weapon formula. Xue Gong Zi obtained the formula and used the river water to swim into the secret room, where he handed the formula to Yun Wei Shan. After the poison on Yun Wei Shan was cured, Xue Gong Zi sneaked out and claimed to have a spare key, so he let Gong Yuan Zheng in. They discovered that Yun Wei Shan was not poisoned and was calmly picking Xue Lian flowers. Yun Wei Shan and Lady Wu Ji were summoned to the Executioner's Hall because they were previously suspected. Gong Shang Jue suspected that Yun Wei Shan had taken Bai Cao Cui in advance, which is why she remained unharmed. Both sides insisted on their claims, and Gong Shang Jue demanded to inspect Yun Wei Shan's injured area. Gong Zi Yu argued that, as the wife of the executioner, it was inappropriate to undress and examine her in public. Lady Wu Ji took her to a room to conduct the examination voluntarily, but Gong Shang Jue didn't trust her and requested Shang Guan Qian to join the inspection. The three women from Wufeng protected Yun Wei Shan, but Shang Guan Qian made a condition: how did she cure the poison? Yun Wei Shan lied and claimed she had consumed Bai Cao Cui. Lady Wu Ji changed her stance and admitted that Yun Wei Shan had a wound on her shoulder, but it needed further investigation to determine if it was caused by a hidden weapon.
Regarding Gong Zi Yu's love affair, leaving that aside for now, before the female lead appeared, Gong Yuanhui was always targeting Gong Zi Yu. At the beginning, when Gong Zi Yu was about to let go of the bride, Gong Yuanhui directly tried to kill him.
I really don't understand why Gong Yuanhui holds such animosity towards Gong Zi Yu. Even if there were suspicions that Gong Zi Yu wasn't a blood relative of the Gong family, it shouldn't have led to an attempted murder.
The Old Blade didn't say much either, and at that time, the young master was Gong Hong Yu, not Gong Zi Yu. It just doesn't make sense that they would resort to assassination.
Perhaps later, with the appearance of the female lead, they wanted to seize the opportunity to expose Gong Zi Yu's wrongdoing openly.
Speechless! The male lead is clearly love-struck. He knows Yun Wei Shan is a spy for Wu Feng, yet he disregards the safety of his own family and protects her.
In terms of strength, he's no match for Gong Shang Jue. When faced with problems, he only knows how to talk his way out of them, lacking any real power.
He takes advantage of others' favoritism towards him without any fear, and blindly assists the spy for Wu Feng. The Gong family is doomed if they end up in his hands.
Episode 18: Since the back mountain is supposedly more secretive and important than the front mountain, it's disappointing to see that Huang Yu, the guard, shows no reverence at all and casually steps on the snow lotus! This scene was poorly directed.
From episode 8 onwards, the plot has been quite compelling, but why does the palace gate keep giving Gong Zi Yu special treatment, making exceptions for him time and time again? This aspect was poorly executed. I haven't read the original work, but if this is how it was written, then it's not well done either, by the way!
I really like Gong Er; the actor portrayed the character exceptionally well!