Episode 12 recap: Nan Gong Yao tentatively probed Xiao Dou Zi's thoughts, feeling dejected.
After returning the Moon Spirit Pearl to Xiao Dou Zi, Nan Gong Yao began to regret it and experienced an intense inner struggle. Loving someone should mean standing by them, but respecting their wishes and letting Xiao Dou Zi leave the palace might be the best thing for them. Nan Gong Yao mulled it over, unsure how to bring it up, so he asked Dong Xi. Dong Xi said that when he was young, he had secretly liked the neighbor girl, but not knowing how to express it, he had teased her to get her attention, only to end up getting beaten up a lot.
Nan Gong Pin heard that Nan Gong Yao wanted to pursue a girl, and thought he should first do the utmost to protect her. Nan Gong Yao felt this was inappropriate, so Nan Gong Pin suggested giving gifts tailored to the girl's interests, and offered to help prepare them. In the end, they found a high-quality rope as a gift, and Nan Gong Pin wondered why it was something used by bandits. Nan Gong Yao didn't explain, and had the maid, Zuo Zuo, carefully package it in a box within a box. When Xiao Dou Zi opened the gift, she found the packaging was elaborate, only to discover a treasure map inside.
During the seating rearrangement at the Chongwen Institute, Nan Gong Pin found the rope he had prepared for the Crown Prince on his own desk. Nan Gong Yao had hidden the rope, attaching a treasure map as a hint, knowing Xiao Dou Zi enjoyed challenges.
Following the clues, Xiao Dou Zi finally found the gift in the Cold Palace - an indestructible rope. Beside it hung another rope, and as Xiao Dou Zi wondered about the meaning, Nan Gong Yao suddenly appeared behind her, explaining that the hanging rope was used for a maid's suicide. Xiao Dou Zi was startled, realizing Nan Gong Yao had been playing a prank to scare her.
Back in the women's quarters, Xiao Dou Zi said she would switch bodies with Mei Yu Shan on the next full moon night. Nan Gong Yao reminded her not to steal anything when she left the palace, and said he had already arranged for her daily needs.
The Empress took Nan Gong Yao to the Orange Jade Temple to pray. At night, Nan Gong Yao prayed that the moon would not be full, so that Xiao Dou Zi would not have to leave.
Back at the Chongwen Institute, due to the rain, Tai Fu didn't hold class on time, and everyone was feeling drowsy. Nan Gong Pin suggested playing "Truth or Dare," and the first pair selected was Nan Gong Yao and Xiao Dou Zi. Nan Gong Yao asked Xiao Dou Zi what her favorite gift since entering the palace was, and she replied that it was Bai Ye's enhanced star chart. He then asked who her most special friend was, and Xiao Dou Zi said it was Nan Gong Yao, to Nan Gong Yao's obvious disappointment, as he realized Xiao Dou Zi only saw him as a friend.
After that, Nan Gong Yao secluded himself in his room, refusing to eat or drink for days, until he finally forced himself to recover and started reviewing documents. When he went to the Chongwen Institute for class again, he had forgotten his books, and Xiao Dou Zi eagerly offered him hers, but Nan Gong Yao ignored her and borrowed Nan Gong Pin's instead.
In etiquette class, Nan Gong Yao also avoided standing face-to-face with Xiao Dou Zi. Xiao Dou Zi felt that Nan Gong Yao was intentionally distancing himself, thinking it was because he cared about her identity as a thief. The full moon was approaching, and Nan Gong Yao had Songong prepare a large quantity of pastries, instructing Dong Xi to closely monitor Mei Yu Shan's movements, and to personally escort her if she left the palace one day.
Comments(Episode 12)