Episode 28 recap: Cui Lin went to meet the Emperor.
Cui Lin went to meet the Emperor and informed him that the matter has come to an end, and it is time to return Luoyang City to the court. While participating in a ball game with Li Yi, Cui Lin took the opportunity to kiss him when he wasn't paying attention, causing Li Yi to become distracted. He asked Cui Lin how she could do such a thing.
Li Yi invited Prime Minister Gu to his residence for a gathering and inquired about Cui Lin's meeting with the Emperor. Prime Minister Gu informed him that Cui Lin had not yet met the Emperor, and the six ministries were in a heated argument. Li Yi proposed a solution, which impressed Prime Minister Gu greatly.
Upon returning home, Li Yi shared the details with Lady Gu Wan, noting that from his observations, it was evident that Li Yi had strong feelings for Cui Lin. Prime Minister Gu believed that if it was solely Cui Lin, Lady Gu Wan could give it a try. However, considering Li Yi's deep affection for Cui Lin, Lady Gu Wan might not stand a chance.
Lady Gu Wan believed that without trying, they would never know if they could succeed. She already had a plan in mind to frame Cui Yi with charges of treason. Tao Zi informed Cui Lin that the Emperor had agreed to let her meet him at court, which greatly surprised Cui Lin, as she didn't expect the approval to come so quickly. Knowing that Cui Lin was going to the court, Li Yi dressed up and prepared to go as well.
When Lao Bao saw Li Yi's appearance, he thought something unusual was happening since Li Yi was usually laid-back. Lao Bao didn't know that Li Yi was in a hurry because Cui Lin was going to the court. When Cui Lin met the Emperor, she informed him that the Cui family's army was willing to return Dongdu Luoyang to the court. The Emperor was overjoyed upon hearing this news.
He immediately told the Empress to arrange a grand banquet to entertain Cui Lin. The Empress asked for instructions on how to proceed. The Emperor instructed her to invite several distinguished ladies from the capital, allowing Cui Lin to witness the true elegance of noble women. Prime Minister Gu informed Lady Gu Wan about this and she wanted to attend the banquet to meet Cui Lin.
The Emperor told Li Lai that he initially planned to hold the banquet to express gratitude to Cui Lin. However, he now believed that if they wanted to win the long-term loyalty of the Cui family's army, it would be better for Li Lai to marry Cui Lin. The Emperor instructed Li Lai to observe Cui Lin closely during the banquet and assured him that he wouldn't force the marriage if he didn't wish for it. Li Lai was already prepared to marry Cui Lin and happily agreed.
At the banquet, Cui Lin was dressed as a graceful lady, and the Empress praised her greatly. Li Lai arranged for a theatrical performance to entertain Cui Lin, and the young ladies below were discussing how devoted Li Lai was to Cui Lin. The Empress suggested that watching the play alone wasn't lively enough and proposed that Li Lai and Li Yi compete for a grand prize.
Cui Lin believed that the red team would win and wagered a golden bracelet as her bet. Lady Gu Wan wanted to bet on the blue team for Li Yi, and Li Yi agreed. In the end, the red team emerged victorious. Li Yi became enthusiastic and decided to personally participate in the second round. Li Lai and Cui Lin also joined the game against Li Yi, while Lady Gu Wan volunteered to team up with Li Yi.
During the competition, Li Lai and Lady Gu Wan were quickly defeated. Only Cui Lin and Li Yi remained on the field. Cui Lin secretly kissed Li Yi, causing him to lose focus, and naturally, Cui Lin emerged as the winner. The Empress rewarded her with a pair of golden hairpins and gave them to Li Yi and Lady Gu Wan as gifts.
After the banquet, Cui Lin and Li Yi met by the lakeside. Li Yi was somewhat annoyed with Cui Lin, questioning how she could kiss him. There were so many people at the banquet, and what if someone had seen them? Cui Lin knew that it was Li Yi who searched through the documents to help her meet the Emperor, but Li Yi reassured her not to worry about it.
Last night, Lao Bao heard Li Yi practicing swordplay in the courtyard again, and they thought his lovesickness had relapsed. Just as Lao Bao mentioned it, Li Yi approached them and asked who could deliver something to Miss Cui. Li Yi told Lao Bao to go and do it.
Li Lai came early in the morning to find Cui Lin, but Tao Zi informed him that Cui Lin had already left early. Li Lai thought it was fine and decided to go to the Ci'en Temple to find her. In the temple, Cui Lin looked at the straw figurine that Li Yi had given her and tried to make one herself but couldn't seem to do it right.
Just as Cui Lin was about to leave, she bumped into Li Yi. She asked Li Yi to accompany her and spend a day happily together as ordinary people.
It's not that the female lead doesn't understand him, but from the moment he stepped out of the Lao Lan Pass, he couldn't go back. From the moment he was crowned as the Qin King and entered West Changjing, his destiny was no longer in his hands.
The female lead understands him, but his situation has become extremely difficult. It's not that he can avoid trouble by not fighting for it. If he doesn't fight, he will face a dead end. His older brother won't spare him.
Not only will he die, but the people around him, including the female lead and the Zhenxi Army, won't be safe either. It's said that those involved are blind while bystanders see clearly. It's just that Li Yi has been unable to see the reality clearly.
The female lead sees it very clearly and has been reminding him that if he wants to protect himself and those around him, he must take control of the Eastern Palace.