Episode 23 recap: Plotting the Bloody Wedding
In Episode 23, Lv Guan is reading "Random Notes from the Forest of Laughter" at Wenwu Academy, laughing frequently. Long Sheng and Lv Jing have an idea to help out, so they go ask Xiao Zi Lv if he's said anything recently. Just then, Xiao Zi Lv shows up, and Long Sheng and Lv Jing hide behind a pillar.
Normally sharp-tongued, Xiao Zi Lv is now uncharacteristically stuttering, unable to get the words out to propose. Lv Guan then goes to the garden. Long Sheng and Lv Jing come out and urge Xiao Zi Lv to go after her. Xiao Zi Lv chases her to the garden, still too nervous to speak properly, but finally gathers the courage to take out a jade pendant and confess his feelings, asking Lv Guan to marry him.
Prince Taihe appears behind the curious Long Sheng and Lv Jing, even more eager about his sister Lv Guan's marriage than they are. As Xiao Zi Lv kneels to propose and Lv Guan hesitates, the three quickly intervene to help the pair. The Second Queen is conflicted about what lavish wedding gift to give Long Sheng and Lv Jing, liking everything but unable to part with any of it.
Lv Hou plans to seek advice from Lv Ke, but the Second Queen forbids him from seeing Lv Ke again, aware that Lv Ke is a bad influence who will only exploit Lv Hou. Now fallen from power, Lv Ke is looked down upon by officials who previously fawned over him. Worried that Chu Ge will also abandon him, Lv Ke overhears Chu Ge instructing her maid to secretly sell their belongings, and assumes she plans to betray him. He poisons Chu Ge's wine, intending to kill her.
However, the shrewd Chu Ge has already detected the poison and does not drink the wine. She discusses their history with Lv Ke, revealing that she doesn't want to leave him behind, but to take him with her. But Lv Ke is too fixated, so Chu Ge can only knock him unconscious.
Chu Ge's deep love for Lv Ke leads her to sacrifice herself for a final desperate gambit. On the eve of the grand wedding, Chang Le Wang, Chang Le Wang's wife, Xiao Jin, and Guang De all arrive at the Qin Prince's mansion, much to the delight of Long Sheng.
The next day, at the grand wedding, Guang De tries to prevent Lv Jing from easily taking Long Sheng by setting up a riddle game, with Long Sheng as the one posing the riddles - riddles that Lv Jing cannot solve. Even so, Long Sheng will ultimately still go with him. Meanwhile, Princess Lv Guan chooses the Wenwu Academy as her wedding venue.
Ling Zhi, pretending to be Lv Guan, demands the most valuable item from Xiao Zi Lv. After thinking it over, Xiao Zi Lv gives Lv Guan his written promise, which she delightedly accepts as the most precious item.
On this day, Prince Taihe has a double celebration - the marriage of Lv Guan and Xiao Zi Lv, as well as the wedding of Princess Long Sheng and Prince Qin. Lv Ke wakes up bound in a carriage, furious to learn that Chu Ge has sold their belongings to allow him to live outside the capital, while she intends to assassinate the Prince of Qin, likely a suicide mission.
Chu Ge attends the grand wedding alone, which concerns Lv Jing, who instructs You Mou to closely watch her. Soon, Chu Ge's act is revealed - black-clad assassins attack the Qin Prince's mansion, knocking out the wedding guests. The powerful Lv Jing and You Yong You Mou fight back, but are outnumbered, with Lv Jing suffering a sword wound to the back. Chu Ge takes Ru Jing hostage, but the Imperial Guards arrive in time to prevent the massacre.
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