Episode 37 recap: Li Yi cured Cui Yi.
Cui Lin felt that just because Li Yi doesn't kneel now doesn't mean he won't kneel in the future. They argued over a sketchbook, and Cui Lin told him that she had worked hard to draw it and asked him to return it to her. They playfully teased each other, and Li Yi passionately kissed Cui Lin.
A soldier from the Cui family army delivered a letter to Cui Lin, but when she opened it, numerous hidden needles came out. Li Yi brought Cui Yi in front of Mu Xian He, who performed a magic trick, and Cui Yi saw his deceased wife, He Min.
Cui Yi looked at He Min and said he never expected to see her again. He cried and said they were finally reunited. He asked He Min if she blamed him, blamed him for not coming back in time for her. He Min didn't speak, so Cui Yi blamed himself and regretted not being able to save her. As Cui Yi was about to touch He Min's face, someone suddenly attacked them from behind.
Cui Yi drove away the attackers with a sword, and he also woke up from Mu Xian He's trick. He asked Mu Xian He who he was and why he brought him here. Mu Xian He asked Li Yi and the others to come over. Cui Yi saw that Li Yi recognized him, and Li Yi and General Xiao Pei happily said that Cui Yi was finally better.
Cui Lin was extremely happy to see Cui Yi clear-headed, but she felt a bit sad when she saw that all of Cui Yi's hair had turned white. Cui Lin asked Li Yi why he didn't tell her earlier, and Li Yi told her that the physician said the method was risky, and he didn't know how to face Cui Lin if something went wrong.
Cui Lin was very grateful to Li Yi and told him that she had something important to tell him. She felt that Liu Cheng Feng's death was suspicious. A few days ago, she saw Wu Luo's cousin arrive in Xi Chang Jing, and she had been monitoring him for some time. Li Yi told her not to worry and that he would handle it.
Prime Minister Gu personally came to see Wu Luo. Previously, he had always sent messages through Liu Cheng Feng, but now he no longer trusted him. He told Wu Luo's people that as long as they helped him kill the Crown Princess Cui Lin, he would fulfill their desire for territory. Wu Luo didn't understand why Prime Minister Gu would do this, and Prime Minister Gu told him that the current Emperor was a confused ruler, and he didn't want to entrust himself and his daughter to such a ruler.
Wu Luo agreed to the alliance invitation from Prime Minister Gu, who told him that Liu Cheng Feng had always admired Cui Lin and warned them to be on guard against him. Wu Luo informed Prime Minister Gu that Liu Cheng Feng wanted to abduct Cui Lin, so they should devise a plan to bring Cui Lin out and kill her.
Liu Cheng Feng asked Ashu to change his surname to Liu to make them family, and Ashu immediately knelt down to express gratitude for the bestowed surname. From then on, he would be called Liu Shu. Li Yi suggested to Cui Lin that Cui Yi should live in Qingyun Temple, where the environment was good, and he could also teach Xuan Ze there.
Cui Lin thought it was a great idea, and she believed Cui Yi would be very happy there. The Emperor learned that Jie Shuo had come to Yingzhou to cause trouble again and wanted Li Yi to lead troops to resolve the situation. Pei Xian thought it was too dangerous for Li Yi as the Crown Prince and volunteered to go himself. Prime Minister Gu suggested that Pei Xian's son, Pei Yuan, should also accompany them.
Cui Yi arrived at Qingyun Temple, and Li Xuan Ze said he finally met Cui Yi. He had heard a lot about Cui Yi. Cui Yi asked who told him those things, and Li Xuan Ze said it was General Han who informed him. Cui Lin watched Cui Yi and Li Xuan Ze getting along well, so she left with Li Yi at ease.
To express their gratitude to Mu Xian He, Cui Lin and Li Yi invited him to have a meal at Fengying Tower. Mu Xian He mentioned that he wanted to eat caviar, and Cui Lin promised to get it for him. Mu Xian He then told Cui Lin that he would perform a magic trick for her. He conjured many fireflies for Cui Lin and Li Yi to enjoy while holding hands. Mu Xian He congratulated them on their wedding using this magic trick.
Li Yi and Cui Lin were having hotpot together, and Li Yi wanted to capture this scene in a painting. However, Cui Lin refused, and they started to argue over the sketchbook. Cui Lin had drawn a scene where Li Yi was kneeling on the ground, but Li Yi felt that it hadn't happened and didn't want it in the painting, as their future child might find it amusing.
Cui Lin explained that she was being prepared for the future, but Li Yi wanted to tear it off. Cui Lin insisted that she had worked hard on it and couldn't tear it off. Cui Lin and Tao Zi went to Fengying Tower and met Vice General Tan, who handed a box to Cui Lin. Just as Cui Lin was about to open it, numerous needles flew out from inside.
I'm not particularly fond of the female lead. She knows that the male lead likes her, yet she repeatedly plays with his emotions. Your Chuaijia Army killed so many of his brothers, and you know it was Gongzi who did it.
Even though he didn't seek revenge on Gongzi, she still complains that the male lead didn't save him. What right does she have?
She relies solely on the fact that the male lead likes her.
He has saved her multiple times, but what has she done for him so far?
Since her appearance, Jing Tian has impressed the audience with a dashing and masculine image. As the story unfolds, she engages in intense emotional struggles with the male lead, successfully portraying a clever and likable character.
This character has her own schemes while remaining committed to her principles and boundaries. Especially in the scene where she is hit by arrows and pulls them out, Jing Tian's performance allows viewers to feel the character's inner pain, as if we can sense her helplessness and struggles through the screen.
During the development of this character, Jing Tian has demonstrated solid acting skills and a profound understanding of the role. When portraying the character's inner conflicts, she can display unwavering convictions while also conveying endless sorrow.
This delicate emotional expression has deeply resonated with the audience, adding much depth to her character and enhancing the overall quality of the drama.
Furthermore, in the scene where Li Yi misunderstands Cui Lin's intention to lure the enemy away, resulting in heavy casualties for the Zhenxi Army, Cui Lin speaks harsh words to make Li Yi give up, but she herself also struggles to bear such losses.
In the behind-the-scenes footage, we can see Jing Tian still unable to calm her emotions and sobbing in the arms of the crew after filming this scene. This moment undoubtedly conveys the genuine emotions of the character and makes the audience feel even more sympathetic towards her.
Later, when Cui Lin learns about Li Yi's injury, she rushes to the scene without hesitation and kneels directly on the ground. This scene undoubtedly reaches an emotional climax, bringing tears to one's eyes. Jing Tian's performance undeniably adds a great deal to this drama, as she uses her superb acting skills to portray a three-dimensional and multifaceted character.
Just as Li Yi only needs to abandon his role as a military general, which is to ensure the border is free from external invasions, and agree to participate in the struggle for the throne with the female lead, will he easily sit on the throne in the next second?
However, the responsibilities of the crown prince throughout history are not that simple. If he decides to become the crown prince at this moment, he must proactively challenge his elder brother, potentially sparking conflicts that result in fratricide.
The emperor currently does not favor him, and the slightest carelessness could lead him and his trusted followers into trouble.
Furthermore, there could be new lives born in the imperial harem at any time, which means that in order to contend for the throne, he may even face the risk of patricide.
The position of the crown prince is one filled with temptations and dangers. In history, many crown princes have tragically fought against each other for the throne. For example, the fight between the Jianwen Emperor and the Yongle Emperor during the Ming Dynasty ultimately led to the overthrow of the Jianwen Emperor and the ascension of the Yongle Emperor.
Such power struggles not only exact a heavy toll on the crown princes themselves but also bring turmoil and insecurity to the entire country.
In this situation, Li Yi needs to act cautiously. Li Yi is well aware that if he chooses to stay and become that crown prince, he will never be able to become the hands-on military general he once was but rather a mere puppet trapped in the palace.
This is clearly a reality he is unwilling to accept.