Episode Summary
In this episode, the consequences of Shangguan He's impersonation of Li Shiliu spiral out of control. While Shangguan He secretly protects Song Yiting and struggles with his growing feelings, Song Yiting is in emotional turmoil, trying to forget the man who saved her.
Spoiler Alert
A Dream within a Dream: Episode 21 Spoilers
The episode kicks off with Nan Heng learning that the priceless Zhanyue Saber is missing. Shangguan He explains that he couldn't bring himself to torture Song Yiting for its location. Nan Heng, cutting to the chase, makes it clear: retrieve the saber, and all other matters will be forgiven. When Shangguan He seems content to wait out the three-day deadline they've set, Nan Heng voices his suspicion that Shangguan He has developed feelings for Song Yiting, a claim Shangguan He quickly denies.
Meanwhile, Song Yiting is trapped in a cycle of grief, trying to exorcise the memory of Li Shiliu by painting his portrait over and over, only to tear each one up.Her maid, Yinzhu, tearfully begs her to stop tormenting herself. In a burst of emotion, Song Yiting declares she will never be a prisoner of love. Unseen, Shangguan He witnesses her painful struggle.
Later, Song Yimeng dines with Nan Heng, whose picky attitude makes her suspect he's upset with her sister, Song Yiting. His probing questions about Yiting—what she's like, what her type is—only deepen Yimeng's mistrust of his intentions.
Gossip runs rampant as Jia Ruru and Liu Huaiyi spread rumors about Song Yimeng's reputation, falsely claiming she has eagerly moved into Nan Heng's private quarters and even bought special medicine to use on him. The conversation shifts to Song Yiting just as Nan Rui arrives, attempting to win her over by reciting a poem. The other girls tease that he's proposing, but Song Yiting pulls him aside, correctly guessing that someone else fed him the lines. When she discovers his cheat sheet, Nan Rui is left speechless.
After Song Yiting walks away, Liu Huaiyi begins to badmouth her, accusing her of being a cold and arrogant social climber. Jia Ruru defends Yiting, but their argument is cut short when a stone flies out from the trees, shattering Liu Huaiyi's cup. Shangguan He, hidden nearby, was the one who threw it to defend Song Yiting's honor.
As he leaves, Song Yiting appears before him, dressed as Li Shiliu. She confronts him, asking why he pushes her toward others when he clearly understands her. Shangguan He, trying to maintain his cover, insists that she deserves to be treated well by someone. When she asks if he ever had feelings for her, he hesitates before stating that Li Shiliu never did. Hurt and angry, Song Yiting accuses him of not understanding love and storms off.
Nan Rui witnesses their entire exchange, his heart filling with hatred for Li Shiliu. He resolves to prove to Song Yiting that his rival is not the good man he appears to be. Elsewhere, other plots are unfolding: Zhou Xueyi discovers Yinzhu burning the portraits Yiting painted, and Song Yude complains to Song Yimeng about Yiting's infatuation with a stranger while rejecting Nan Rui. Worried that Nan Heng will harm her sister, Yimeng decides to ask Li Shiliu for help.
The situation escalates when Zhou Xueyi confronts Yinzhu about the paintings and slaps Song Yiting when she rushes to her maid's defense. In a separate, tender moment, Nan Heng tries to clear up a misunderstanding with Song Yimeng, covering her eyes and kissing her to prove that she is the one he truly likes. He also has a serious talk with a conflicted Shangguan He, urging him to reveal the truth before more people get hurt.
The climax arrives from multiple directions. Song Yimeng tries to warn Song Yiting away from Nan Heng, but Yiting thinks she's talking about Li Shiliu, leading to a heated, confused argument. Seeking revenge, Nan Rui reports to Chu Guihong that Shangguan He is a former death-row inmate. Acting on this information, Chu Guihong arrives with the Qianyu Army to arrest Shangguan He, demanding that "Li Shiliu" explain himself.
