Episode Summary

In a dramatic episode, Nan Heng's identity as Li Shiliu is forcibly revealed to Song Yiting after she drugs him in an attempt to learn his true feelings.While Shangguan He is captured and tortured by Chu Guihong, he is used as bait in a trap for Nan Heng. The episode ends with Nan Heng being wounded during a staged prison break and subsequently arrested under Chu Guihong's orders.

Spoiler Alert

A Dream within a Dream: Episode 22 Spoilers

The episode ignites with a tense confrontation as Chu Guihong, determined to capture Shangguan He, finds himself at odds with Nan Heng. The standoff between the Qianyu Army and the Yeyoushen is palpable. Chu Guihong, believing Shangguan He is the wanted criminal Shangguan Baihe, uses his control over the "Can Jiang Yue" organization to threaten Nan Heng. To prevent Nan Heng from being implicated, Shangguan He willingly goes with Chu Guihong, asking Nan Heng to pass on a message to Song Yiting.

Meanwhile, Song Yimeng, who has knowledge of the story's original plot, is in a panic. She knows about the infamous scene where Song Yiting and Nan Heng have a scandalous affair and is desperate to stop it. Her urgency intensifies when her maid, Yinzhu, rushes in with news that Song Yiting plans to elope.

In a secluded, abandoned house, Nan Heng, disguised as the mysterious swordsman Li Shiliu, meets with Song Yiting. She presses him for an honest confession of his feelings, promising to return the precious Zhan Yue Saber in exchange for the truth.

Just as this is unfolding, a frantic Song Yimeng rushes to "Can Jiang Yue" seeking Li Shiliu's help, shouting that her sister, Song Yiting, is in grave danger. Her cries inadvertently distract Shangguan He during an escape attempt, leading to his swift recapture by the Qianyu Army.

Back at the abandoned house, a desperate Song Yiting resorts to using a knockout powder on "Li Shiliu." She attempts to forcibly remove his clothes and mask to reveal his identity.

At that precise moment, Song Yimeng bursts in with Chu Guihong and his soldiers. Thinking fast, Nan Heng knocks Song Yiting unconscious, hides his Li Shiliu disguise, and fabricates a story that he found her after she was attacked by bandits.

The fallout is immediate. The matriarch, Zhou Xueyi, furiously accuses Nan Heng of ruining Song Yiting's reputation. In response, Nan Heng surrounds the Song family residence with his guards, effectively placing them under watch until Song Yiting awakens. Once she does, she and Nan Heng come to a mutual agreement to keep each other's secrets for now. However, Song Yiting has two conditions: Nan Heng must rescue Shangguan He, and he must promise that he will only ever marry her sister, Song Yimeng.

Song Yimeng's misunderstanding deepens, and she confronts Nan Heng, with Chu Guihong adding fuel to the fire by painting Nan Heng as a habitual liar. Later, Chu Guihong brutally interrogates Shangguan He, who claims under torture that the true power behind "Can Jiang Yue" is Prince Nan Rui. Chu Guihong doesn't believe him but decides to use him as bait in an elaborate trap to see if Nan Heng will attempt a rescue.

The trap is set in the heavily guarded prison. Chu Guihong presents a disheveled prisoner to Nan Heng, claiming it is Shangguan He. As Nan Heng feigns ignorance, a sudden prison break occurs. An unknown party attacks, injures Nan Heng, and whisks the prisoner away. Convinced that Nan Heng orchestrated the entire event, Chu Guihong orders his arrest.