Episode 19 recap: Xiao Yao Seeks Revenge for Tu Shan Jing
In episode 19, Xi Yan Qiang Xuan admits that he killed Tu Shan Jing, which causes Xi Ling Jiu Yao immense pain, almost making her unable to breathe. Enraged, she grabs a knife and points it directly at Qiang Xuan. Seeing his sister like this, Qiang Xuan is shocked, but more so confused and saddened, as he never imagined his sister would hate him so much.
Although Qiang Xuan struggled, he ultimately allowed the knife's tip to pierce his own body, causing blood to flow out. Kneeling on the ground, Qiang Xuan asks in bewilderment why their love has turned into this. Jiu Yao, gripping the still-trembling knife, feels a pain in her heart like being cut by a blade. Qiang Xuan even wants to grasp the knife's edge and die together with his sister.
Jiu Yao breaks down and shouts, which also summons their grandfather. The grandfather prevents this tragic scene, but Jiu Yao sees despair in his eyes, realizing they had known the truth all along. She questions her grandfather, but ends up sitting on the ground, helpless, and crying.
That night, the grandfather comes to Jiu Yao's room and tells her that Qiang Xuan was only momentarily confused, hoping she won't be trapped in hatred. But Jiu Yao's heart has turned as cold as ice, and she has lost all trust in the family. She questions her grandfather, and the grandfather sighs, saying their parents sacrificed themselves for the greater good, hoping she wouldn't let the common people suffer due to personal grudges. Afterward, the grandfather orders that Jiu Yao be closely watched. Jiu Yao coldly chuckles, saying she has been imprisoned for thirty years and doesn't care about one more time, and that if she really wants to seek revenge, they should just kill her.
The helpless grandfather leaves, leaving Jiu Yao alone to lick her wounds. Old Xi Yan Wang separates Jiu Yao and Qiang Xuan, but Qiang Xuan is clever. He secretly gives Jiu Yao a key by sending her wine and mulberries. Jiu Yao discovers the key while playing with the mulberries and uses it to unlock the shackles binding her.
She decides to go to the Phoenix Forest, the place where she and Qiang Xuan have shared memories. Deep in the Phoenix Forest, she indeed finds Qiang Xuan. The two look at each other without saying a word. Jiu Yao thanks Qiang Xuan for the key, self-deprecatingly saying she has been imprisoned her entire life, never imagining this key would unlock the shackles imposed by the family and her elder brother.
Qiang Xuan wants to use their childhood swing to mend the rift between them, but Jiu Yao's heart is already filled with cracks. Sitting on the swing, she talks about the Qiang Xuan brother she once knew, the pure and innocent image that has disappeared along with Tu Shan Jing's death. Then she gets off the swing and directly tells him that she had once dreamed of picking flowers and swinging with Qiang Xuan in the Phoenix Forest, but now everything has been ruined by Qiang Xuan's actions.
She declares that she will seek revenge. Qiang Xuan quietly accepts Jiu Yao's determination. She hands him a Phoenix flower, telling him it is poisonous. Qiang Xuan unhesitatingly takes the flower, tastes the nectar, and Jiu Yao also eats it. They sit together, savoring the poisonous Phoenix flowers one by one. But Jiu Yao is the first to succumb to the poison.
Qiang Xuan holds her tightly, asking if she would have been as resolute if Tu Shan Jing had harmed her. Jiu Yao shakes her head, saying Tu Shan Jing would never have let her suffer. Overwhelmed with remorse, Qiang Xuan apologizes to Jiu Yao, regretting that he treated her as a pawn. Jiu Yao gently wipes his tears, indicating that she has forgiven him. Qiang Xuan asks if she would have chosen him if time could be turned back, but before Jiu Yao can answer, she starts coughing up blood.
Qiang Xuan suddenly realizes that the flowers were not actually poisonous, and that Jiu Yao had sacrificed herself to protect him. With a smile, Jiu Yao passes away. Qiang Xuan embraces her lifeless body, and his tears of despair flow uncontrollably.
Comments(Episode 19)