Episode 23 recap: Zhou Shi Yu has proposed to Yue Ling.
Xing Yi brought back the antidote and saved Su Nian. After waking up, Su Nian asked about Ling Xi's whereabouts and guessed that Ling Xi was likely in great danger. Xing Yi took Su Nian to the Wang manor to settle him, but Yue Ling had many concerns. So Xing Yi persuaded Yue Ling by seeking help from the Northern King. Su Nian helped the Prime Minister because he wanted to overturn the case for his family - he hoped the Northern King could find the files related to the Liu family to help them.
Zhou Shi Yu revealed Su Nian's family history - the Liu family was framed and wiped out, and the young daughter was forced into the music troupe. Yue Ling was saddened to hear of Su Nian's tragic past. During the meal, Yue Ling ordered the servants to cook a nourishing jade rib soup for Su Nian to replenish his qi and blood.
Yue Ling wrote poems as the marriage contract, but Zhou Shi Yu felt it was inappropriate. He embraced Yue Ling and wrote an acrostic poem instead. Soon after, Zhou Shi Yu had the lavish betrothal gifts sent to the manor. The Southern King complained about the extravagance, and the Young Master of the Ten Perfections said the Southern King's betrothal gifts would surely be outmatched by the Northern King. The Southern King felt looked down upon because his mother was a merchant.
Following Northern Suo's customs, the manor replaced all candles with red candles. Zhou Shi Yu presented Yue Ling with a beautiful bridal gown, but suddenly everyone fainted. Zhou Shi Yu and Yue Ling were reborn, only to see chaos in the court. They immediately stopped the replacement of the candles, and Su Nian discovered the red candles were soaked in the Cold Stone Poison from the Ruo Feng Gate, lethal upon inhalation.
The Heavenly Master observed that the jade pendant had lost its power. Prime Minister Zhou Jing Yuan was pleased, as with Zhou Shi Yu and Yue Ling no longer having supernatural abilities, and the Southern King having turned traitor, everything was now under his control.
Prince of Nan received the news that the princess had extinguished the red candle, and was puzzled when Lin Su, the minister's subordinate, came to deliver the message that the emperor could not promise what the Prince of Nan wanted, but the minister could. The Prince of Nan was somewhat hesitant.
Zhou Shi Yu and Yue Ling discovered that the jade pendant had lost its magical powers. They believed that the day of the grand wedding, the court would fall into chaos, but they were not afraid and decided to face it together. On the wedding day, the prince's mansion was bustling with activity. Yue Ling dressed up and waited for Zhou Shi Yu. Su Nian saw Yue Ling in her bridal dress and couldn't help but praise her beauty, promising to help her dress up nicely when it's her turn to marry Xing Yi.
Zhou Shi Yu carried Yue Ling onto the bridge, though Yue Ling was a bit concerned it wasn't proper, Zhou Shi Yu only had eyes for her. They received the blessings of the crowd as they tied the knot and drank their wedding cups.
Meanwhile, the minister Zhou Jing Yuan secretly led his men to the capital and killed the guards. The Prince of Nan was bored at home and remembered he had submitted a request to enter the palace but hadn't received a reply yet. Yang Xu suddenly pulled out a dagger and held the Prince of Nan hostage, telling him not to move.
The Prince of the North took Yue Ling to the palace to pay respects, but intentionally knocked her unconscious and had Lin Mu place her in the Empress's palace. The Prince then went to the main hall, where Zhou Jing Yuan had already taken the dragon throne and declared himself the new emperor. The Prince was furious at this coup attempt. But Zhou Jing Yuan believed the realm was rightfully his after years of military exploits.
Zhou Jing Yuan ordered his men to capture the Prince of the North. But the Prince of Nan arrived with the imperial guards. A large group of soldiers burst into the palace, subduing Zhou Jing Yuan's men. Gao Yuan had only pretended to be loyal to Zhou Jing Yuan, and now exposed Zhou Jing Yuan's true nature, striking him down with a sword.
Comments(Episode 23)