Episode 9 recap: Mu Rong Xuan Lie Confesses to Yin Luo Mei
In Episode 9, everything was proceeding smoothly according to plan until an unexpected crisis disrupted the calm. Mei Lin had to step in to rescue Yue Qin, and in the chaos, Shu Mo was struck by an arrow, putting him in critical danger. Seeing this, Yue Qin quickly decided to escort Shu Mo back to safety.
Soon after, Zhang Yin and his group rushed in, mistakenly believing that the fallen "Shu Mo" was unconscious. Just as they were about to celebrate their perceived victory, they realized that it was actually Mei Lin in disguise. Furious, they began to assault her.
Mu Rong Jing He arrived just in time to take Mei Lin away from the scene. Looking at her injuries, he felt both heartbroken and angry, scolding her for risking her safety to save others. Mei Lin, however, insisted that Yue Qin was her savior, and she felt compelled to repay that debt. This made Mu Rong Jing He even more frustrated, and he presented Mei Lin with two choices: either follow Yue Qin to express her gratitude or stay by his side to fight against their enemies together.
Meanwhile, Mu Rong Xuan Lie was with Yin Luo Mei, enjoying a fire dragon performance and paying tribute to fallen soldiers with a toast, expressing his sorrow and respect. Deeply moved, Yin Luo Mei listened as Mu Rong Xuan Lie took the opportunity to confess his feelings for her, claiming she was the only one in his heart. He even tried to provoke her by mentioning Mu Rong Jing He’s relationship with Mei Lin, but Yin Luo Mei remained silent and did not give a clear response.
To divert the crown prince’s attention, Mu Rong Jing He chose to spend the upcoming festival earnestly with Mei Lin, even though he still harbored concerns about the earlier events. To lighten the mood, Mei Lin picked out a dog lantern as a gift for Mu Rong Jing He. Initially, he was displeased at being compared to a dog, but Mei Lin explained that this dog was her only companion after the Qingzhou fire, which softened his heart.
On another front, Mu Rong Jing He successfully captured Zhang Yin and threatened him to identify the Eastern Palace as the mastermind behind their troubles in exchange for his life. At first, Zhang Yin resisted, but upon seeing a forged Wei Bei military token, he finally relented and revealed that the key witness in the Qingzhou case was the Eastern Palace strategist, Li Qing.
Mei Lin speculated that Li Qing had been hidden away and learned that the mastermind behind the Qingzhou arson case might be Mu Rong Xuan Lie. She vowed to seek justice for the innocent citizens.
Yue Qin brought the severely injured Shu Mo back to the Honglu Temple, but Shu Mo was deeply poisoned and in critical condition. In his final moments, Shu Mo confessed to Yue Qin that everything he had done was to help Yue Qin return to Xiyan, a wish that unfortunately went unfulfilled. Shu Mo's passing left Yue Qin heartbroken; though they were master and servant, their bond was as deep as family.
To honor Shu Mo's memory, Yue Qin searched for the Yisang flower, which is used in Xiyan to pay tribute to the deceased but is extremely rare in Dayan. In despair, he locked himself away, tirelessly carving day and night to express his sorrow and guilt over Shu Mo's death. Seeing this, Mei Lin, despite her mixed feelings, decided to help Yue Qin emerge from his gloom. She hand-stitched a belt adorned with Yisang flower patterns and gifted it to him as a tribute to Shu Mo.
The two placed the Yisang flower in a high spot, feeling a slight sense of comfort. Yue Qin hoped Mei Lin would leave Dayan with him, but Mei Lin refused, explaining that after the Qingzhou fire, her path could not turn back. Yue Qin respected her decision and handed her the evidence left by Shu Mo, hoping she could seize control of her own fate.
Later, Mei Lin shared everything with Mu Rong Jing He and tried to clear up his misunderstandings about Yue Qin. Mu Rong Jing He stated that he wouldn't hold Yue Qin accountable but reminded Mei Lin to keep her distance. Late at night, he sat alone by the pond, gazing at the dog lantern Mei Lin had given him, filled with longing and complex emotions for her.
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